NHL
Mike Schultz
May 27, 2016

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks Odds: 2016 Stanley Cup Final

The 2016 Stanley Cup Final promises to be a true battle between two very strong possession teams, as well as a clinic in playoff hockey from some big marquee names, including some of the greatest players to ever take to the ice. The San Jose Sharks meet the Pittsburgh Penguins starting this Monday, and this marks the first time that the Sharks will play for the Stanley Cup in their team’s history, while this will be the fifth appearance for the Penguins and their first since 2009. The Sharks and Penguins split their two regular-season meetings, with the visiting team winning both times. The Penguins are currently the favorite to win the Cup at -164.

Stanley Cup Final: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks

Series Winner Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins -164
Home Team Advantage: Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins

It was a thriller of a hockey game last night, where the Pens notched a 2-1 victory over the defending conference champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in Game 7 of the 2016 Eastern Conference final. This playoff run by the Penguins has shown off the strength of their squad, in both the veteran and the rookie category. Crosby, Malkin and Kessel have been well matched by some of of their first-year players, including rookie goalie Matt Murray and Bryan Rust. Phil Kessel has been a playoff warrior, scoring six points in each series to lead the Pens with 18 points throughout their 18 games.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are doing a lot of things right this post-season including scoring a lot of goals. This team is averaging 3.50 goals per game and their roster is home to four of the top five scorers in these playoffs. The dual threat of Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, who is the postseason’s leading goal scorer, gives the Sharks an almost unstoppable wave that will force the Pens to be strong defensively, something that the Penguins have struggled with. The Sharks top defensive players, Brent Burns, Paul Martin and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, are going to have their hands full during this series.