Two teams that split their season series 2-2 a year ago, the Arizona Coyotes and the San Jose Sharks collide at the SAP Center. Fox Arizona Plus will broadcast this divisional matchup, which gets underway at 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 17.
Arizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks Odds
Arizona (+105) is entering this one as the underdog to San Jose (-125) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -115 for the over and -105 on the under.
Arizona is 19-16 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 35 regular season contests, 20 of its games have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2019-20 Coyotes team is 11-7 SU on the road.
Arizona has converted on 20.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Arizona has been whistled for penalties just 3.1 times per game overall during the 2019-20 season, 3.0 per game over its last five outings total, and 3.0 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .935 save percentage and 29.0 saves per game, Darcy Kuemper (14-9-2) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona this year. If Arizona decides to rest him, however, head coach Rick Tocchet could roll with Antti Raanta (5-7-2), who has a .919 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this year.
Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Coyotes. Schmaltz has 23 points via six goals and 17 assists, and has recorded two or more points in five different games. Keller has seven goals and 16 assists to his credit (and has logged a point in 19 games).
On the other bench, San Jose is 16-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 10-8 SU as the home team.
San Jose has converted on just 15.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 88.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
San Jose players have been penalized 4.5 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 16.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Martin Jones (24.8 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for San Jose. Jones has 12 wins, 15 losses, and one OT loss to his name and has registered a mediocre 3.30 goals against average and a fairly-weak .888 save percentage this year.
Logan Couture (11 goals, 21 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Sharks.
Arizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in three of Arizona’s last five games.
- The Sharks are 7-10 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Coyotes are 8-5 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- Three of Arizona’s past 10 contests have ended in a shootout. The team’s 2-1 in those games and 5-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- San Jose has created 12.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 8.5 takeaways per game (ranked 8th).
- Arizona is ranked 26th in the NHL this season with 6.6 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as it has averaged 5.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.6 takeaways over its last five.
- San Jose could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 7-4 in games decided by one goal, while Arizona is 8-10 in such games.
