-
Jeremy Perry
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks: Game 3 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Ducks dropped their second home game in a row to open the series when they fell 3-2 to San Jose in Game 2 on Saturday night. Anaheim has now been outscored 6-2 in the series after getting shut out in the opener. With the pressure now squarely on their shoulders, the Ducks will need to find a way to spark their offense on the road in San Jose.
Ducks vs Sharks Stanley Cup Playoff Betting Analysis
After the two wins in this series, the Sharks are now 23-8 versus their division this season. However, they’ve only played three home games this season with a total of five or less and they are 1-2 in those games. The Ducks won their only road game where the total was five or less.
This is a very even series as the Sharks are now 8-7-0 in the last 15 meetings but the Ducks are 4-3 in their last seven in San Jose. Under could be the way to go as nine of the last 10 contests have gone under and six straight in San Jose.
Anaheim Ducks
The key for the Ducks will be to find their game at the offensive end of the ice after being held to two goals through the first two contests. Anaheim took the lead just 40 seconds in to Game 2 but managed just one more goal in the 3-2 loss. The power play could be key after the Ducks went one-for-two with the man advantage on Saturday. However, the only way to score on the power play is if San Jose takes penalties, which they haven’t done much of through the first two games (five in total). If not, it will put even more pressure on Anaheim’s forwards to deliver at five-on-five. That’s a problem as the Ducks averaged just 2.56 goals per game on the road this season, which was the fifth-worst mark.
Meanwhile, there is a ton of pressure on the shoulders of John Gibson after consecutive losses. Gibson turned aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced in Game 2 but it wasn’t good enough for the Ducks to pick up a win. Staring down the prospect of a 0-3 series hole, all of the pressure is on Anaheim as they head to San Jose.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks looked incredibly confident picking up back-to-back wins in Anaheim. They will look to keep their foot on the gas as the series shifts home. Marcus Sorenson, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl all found the back of the net for San Jose on Saturday night. With all four lines contributing up front, the Sharks are as dangerous as any team in the Western Conference. Couture, Joe Pavelski and Evander Kane will need to continue to lead the way as the Sharks most dangerous offensive threats.
Martin Jones continued his excellent start to the playoffs by turning aside 28 of the 30 shots he faced in Game 2. Jones has stopped 53 of the 55 shots he has faced through the first two games of the series. He’s played better at home than on the road this year, going 19-10-2 at home with a 2.39 GAA compared to 11-12-4 on the road with a 2.72 GAA.
