San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s going to be a playoff atmosphere as the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche kick off a four-game set on Friday night in Denver. These teams will play a back-to-back in Colorado on Friday and Saturday, before the series shifts to San Jose for another two-game set on Monday and Wednesday.
The Avalanche are a fairly heavy -284 home favourite to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0.
Sharks vs. Avalanche Betting Analysis
With the way the NHL schedule has been adjusted and rescheduled, these teams have only managed to face off four times against each other. The Avs have a 3-1 edge in the season series and it hasn’t looked that close. Colorado has shutout San Jose twice and outscored the Sharks by a combined 16-9. The Over/Under is split in the series.
It’s been a tough season for the Sharks. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 games overall and they haven’t won in their last five trips to Colorado. San Jose is 27-22 against the spread, although they only covered in one of their four games against the Avalanche this year. The Sharks have hit the Over in five of their last six games.
Colorado has hit a mini slump since a COVID pause forced them to reschedule three games. The Avs have dropped three in a row, but they’re 10-4 straight up in their last 14 games and they’ve won five straight at home. They’re 20-27 ATS overall, covering in 12 of 24 home games. The Avalanche have hit the Over in four of their last six games.
San Jose Sharks
It’s a slim chance, but after two straight wins, San Jose still has a shot at the playoffs. The Sharks swept a two-game set in San Jose against the Coyotes with a 6-4 win on Monday and a 4-2 win on Wednesday. Evander Kane’s four point night (1G, 3A) was the difference-maker on Monday. Kane, who leads the team with 42 points (20G, 22A), also opened the scoring in the Wednesday game. Josef Korenar started both games against Arizona, which were actually his first two career NHL wins. The rookie is 2-3-0 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. With this being a back-to-back situation, Korenar will likely get the start Friday, while Martin Jones should be between the pipes Saturday. Jones is 15-12-3 with a 3.26 GAA and .896 SV.
Colorado Avalanche
There’s little panic in Colorado amid a season-high three-game losing streak. The Avs are expecting a big boost to the lineup with the potential return of leading goal-scorer Mikko Rantanen and No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer, as well as Joonas Donskoi. All three players were taken off the COVID protocols list earlier this week and could be in the lineup on Friday. In their absence, Nathan MacKinnon continues to impress. The Avs’ sniper is fifth in league scoring with 61 points (19G, 42A) and has at least one point in 15 straight games (9G, 17A).
It’s unclear which goalie will start on Friday and Saturday, but you’ve got to think Grubauer will get one of those games, which leaves Devan Dubnyk to face his former team in the other game. Dubnyk, who was acquired from the Sharks at the trade deadline, is 2-2-0 with the Avalanche and has posted a 3.32 GAA and .887 SV. Grubauer was a leading contender for the Vezina Trophy before the COVID pause, but he hasn’t played since April 12. The German goaltender is 25-8-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .920 SV.
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