The Prudential Center will play host to an enticing tilt as the San Jose Sharks travel across the country to meet the New Jersey Devils. This cross-country matchup will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 20 and it can be viewed live on MSG Network.
San Jose Sharks at New Jersey Devils Odds
New Jersey (-130) is favored over San Jose (+110), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -125 for the over and +105 for the under.
San Jose is 26-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 31 of its outings have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just two have pushed. This 2019-20 Sharks team is 12-17 SU on the road.
San Jose has converted on just 16.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off a whopping 85.9 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, San Jose has been penalized 4.1 times per game overall in the 2019-20 season, 4.2 per game over its last five contests total, and 4.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 13.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Boasting a .894 save percentage and 25.2 saves per game, Martin Jones (14-20-2) has been the best option in goal for San Jose this year. If head coach Bob Boughner decides to rest him, however, San Jose may turn to Aaron Dell (12-17-2), who has a .909 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average this year.
Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson will both lead the way for the visiting Sharks. Burns has 41 points via 12 goals and 29 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games. Karlsson has six goals and 34 assists to his creditand has notched at least one point in 32 games.
On the other side of the rink, New Jersey is 22-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 10-20 SU as the home team this season.
New Jersey has converted on just 16.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey players have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
MacKenzie Blackwood has stopped 27.7 shots per game as the top netminder in the crease for New Jersey. Blackwood has 19 wins, 22 losses, and seven OT losses and has registered a pedestrian 2.79 goals against average and a .913 save percentage this season.
Kyle Palmieri (22 goals, 19 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Devils.
San Jose Sharks vs. New Jersey Devils Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
- The Devils are 10-16 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 14-21 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
- Three of New Jersey’s past 10 contests have gone to a shootout. The team’s 1-2 in those games and 4-6 overall in shootouts this season.
- New Jersey is ranked 19th in the league this season with 7.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as it has created 7.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.4 takeaways over its last five.
- San Jose has forced 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.4 takeaways per game (ranked sixth in the NHL).
