The San Jose Sharks have battled back from the brink of elimination – but there’s still work to do as they host the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday in the seventh and deciding game of their first-round playoff series. The Sharks pulled out a 2-1 overtime win in a wildly entertaining Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena to set the stage for Tuesday’s Game 7 – and both sides will need to figure out how to balance aggressive play with staying out of the penalty box.

Golden Knights vs Sharks Stanley Cup Playoff Betting Analysis

Things might change in the hours leading up to game-time, but oddsmakers have this one as close as you can get. The most notable trend of interest to bettors might be the fact that the home team has won five of the previous seven meetings between the teams, with the hosts each having gone 2-1 so far in this best-of-seven. San Jose went a solid 25-11-5 at home during the season, but is just 5-5 SU in 10 home games vs. Vegas all-time.

The total for Tuesday’s final game is holding firm at 6, which won’t surprise anyone who has followed the rivalry between these teams. They’ve converted the over in each of their previous five meetings at SAP Center, averaging a whopping 7.8 goals per game over that stretch. They’re also 6-2 O/U in their previous eight encounters overall. The winning team has scored at least five goals in five of the six games played in the series.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights might have missed out on a pair of chances to advance to the second round for the second time in as many seasons, but they still have the edge when it comes to special-teams proficiency. Vegas enters Tuesday having scored a playoff-high eight power play goals in 27 opportunities, good for a 29.6-percent success rate that ranks fourth overall. The Golden Knights have also scored a pair of shorthanded goals in the series.

San Jose Sharks

Improved discipline needs to be a significant part of the Sharks’ game plan in Game 7; despite surrendering an incredible 59 shots in that Game 6 victory, San Jose surrendered just three Vegas power-play chances and killed off all three. The Sharks could also use a more potent power play itself, having scored on just four of its 25 opportunities while surrendering those two Golden Knights shorthanded goals in the process.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Away

5

SHARKS

Home

3

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