Winnipeg Jets vs. San Jose Sharks Prediction, NHL Odds
After a 0-4-2 start, the Sharks have rattled off five wins in eight games and the offence is coming alive. San Jose’s now 10th in the NHL with 3.43 goals per game and have reached a minimum of three goals in five of their last six outings. Friday’s the first of back-to-back for San Jose at home.
Winnipeg is coming off a 3-0 shutout loss at L.A. on Tuesday that began a six-game western road trip that starts down in California. The loss was Winnipeg’s first on the road in five outings this season. At 9-4 the Jets sit second in the Central Division.
Puck drop at the SAP Center goes at 10 p.m. EST with the Jets coming in as a -200 moneyline road favourite and the total is set at six on the NHL odds.
Jets vs. Sharks NHL Betting Odds
Even before the scoring started to pick up for the Sharks, they’ve been a team that trends to the over. San Jose is third-worst in the NHL with 3.79 goals allowed per game and that’s played a large part in nine of their 14 games this season finishing over the total. Historically, that changes against the Jets as 11 of these teams last 15 battles have finished under the total. In their last 10 games against Winnipeg, the Sharks have totalled 19 goals.
Winnipeg comes in with a five-game win streak over San Jose but four of those five wins have been by a single goal. Winnipeg’s found an ability at the start of the season to put away teams though as six of their nine wins on the season have been by double-digits. Prior to getting shut out on Tuesday, Winnipeg have scored at least four goals in three straight games.
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg bouncing back is going to start with getting their power-play going again. The Jets went without a goal in eight power-play opportunities in their last two outings, including five in Tuesday’s shutout loss. Kyle Connor’s especially the guy to get kickstarted. He’s second on Winnipeg with eight goals in 13 games but has yet to find the back of the net on the man advantage. Mark Scheifele leads the Jets with nine goals, three of which have been power-play makers. The good news too is San Jose has the eighth-worst penalty kill in the NHL this season.
Goaltending has been superb for the Jets this season yet again. Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie have a combined .923 save percentage through 13 games and both are above .920 in that category. Hellebuyck should get the nod on Friday; he is 13-6-2 with a .927 save percentage lifetime against the Sharks.
San Jose Sharks
Macklin Celebrini is now atop the NHL scorers. The 19-year-old is coming off a one-goal, two-assist night on Wednesday at Seattle, a game in which the Sharks won 6-1. Celebrini’s 21 points are eight more than any Sharks skater, the next closest being his buddy and linemate Will Smith. The duo is spearheading what looks to be a promising future in San Jose.
The Sharks could be getting back a key piece on Friday too in William Eklund who has missed two games with a lower-body injury. Eklund skated Thursday and will be re-evaluated ahead of Friday’s game.
San Jose’s been rotating Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic in net this season, and with Friday being the start of a back-to-back it’s likely going to be Nedeljkovic starting it off on Friday in the pipes and Askarov on Saturday. Nedeljkovic has been the better of the two this season, albeit with an .895 save percentage.
