The SAP Center will be the site for a Western Conference matchup as the Nashville Predators visit San Jose to take on the Sharks. The opening face-off takes place at 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 1, and it’ll be broadcasted live on NBC Sports Network.
Nashville Predators vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
San Jose (-125) is currently favored over Nashville (+105), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -125 under, +105 over.
Losing -0.3 units for moneyline bettors, San Jose is 6-5 straight up (SU) in the 2017-18 season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, hasn’t moved much from the 46-36 record the team produced during last year’s regular season campaign. Out of its 11 regular season outings, seven of them have gone under the total, while three have gone over and just one has pushed. The teams 3-3 SU at home this year.
The Sharks have converted on 20.5 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 88.4 percent of all penalties.
The Sharks, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.0 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.2, the third-best mark in the league. After serving an average of 7.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the teams been forced to kill penalties for 8.0 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .925 save percentage, Martin Jones (5-3) has been the best option in goal for the Sharks this season. If the Sharks, however, choose to rest him, head coach Peter Deboer could turn to Aaron Dell (1-3-3 record, .907 save percentage, 2.41 goals against average).
The Sharks will continue looking for offensive production out of Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. Couture (12 points) is up to eight goals and four assists and has recorded two or more points three times this year. Thornton has two goals and six assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in six games.
Nashville is 5-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 11 regular season contests, seven of its games have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. As a road team, the Predators are 2-4 SU so far.
The Predators have converted on 24.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 10th overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
Nashville’s players have been called for penalties 6.3 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed noticeably from the 4.0 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 10.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago (fourth-most in the league), the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for a whopping 15.1 minutes per matchup this season.
Pekka Rinne (1.86 goals against average and .940 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Nashville. Rinne is averaging 29.6 saves per game and owns a 5-3-2 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Predators will be Filip Forsberg, who’s got eight goals and five assists this season.
Nashville Predators vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- After posting a 2-4 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Nashville is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. San Jose went 2-1 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- The total has gone under in four of San Jose’s last five outings.
- Nashville has managed 28.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while San Jose is averaging 33.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
