It’s a Western Conference semifinal series that no one likely saw coming as the Colorado Avalanche visit the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 on Friday night. The Sharks are favored on the NHL Betting Lines for the opener and the series.
How to Bet Avalanche vs Sharks 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Lines & Game 1 Info
Superstars step up in the playoffs. And Nathan MacKinnon has done just that.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/CYus5NpchX
— x- Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) 26 de abril de 2019
- When: Friday, 10 PM ET
- Where: SAP Center
- TV: NHL Center Ice
- 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Lines: San Jose Sharks -130 (Total 6)
Hurricanes vs Islanders 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Pick for Game 1
Regular Season Series
San Jose won it 3-0. The teams met in the regular-season finale and the Sharks prevailed 5-2 at home. Evander Kane scored to make San Jose the first team in 10 years with at least four 30-goal scorers and the Sharks wrapped up the second-best record in the Western Conference. Brent Burns, Kevin Labanc, Gustav Nyquist and Micheal Haley also scored for the Sharks. Martin Jones made 28 saves.Colorado had gone 10 straight games without a regulation loss. Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves. It should be noted the game meant nothing for the Avs as they were locked into the second wild-card spot in the West.
The Avs and Sharks have met four times in the postseason, with Colorado winning the first two matchups (1999, 4-2; 2002, 4-3) and San Jose taking the last two (2004, 4-2; 2010, 4-2).
Why Bet on Colorado?
No Western team was more impressive in the first round than the Avalanche as they beat top-seeded Calgary in five games. Colorado lost the opener 4-0 and then dominated. The finale was 5-1 in Calgary on April 19.Mikko Rantanen led the Avalanche in scoring with nine points in the series. Rantanen topped the team with five goals, including two game-winners, and he posted four straight multi-point efforts in Colorado’s first-round series win over Calgary.
Nathan MacKinnon collected eight points in the series. He didn’t score in Game 1 but MacKinnon posted at least one point in each of the next four games to help Colorado earn four straight wins. MacKinnon compiled five power-play points in the series. Philipp Grubauer was in net for all five games and posted a 1.90 goals-against average and .939 save percentage.
The Avs got a boost from signing college defensemen Cale Makar during the series – yes, that’s allowed – and put him in the lineup immediately. He will stay in the lineup whether the Avs use six or seven blueliners in this series. Makar played in his first career NHL game in Game 3 against Calgary and he scored a goal. His ice time increased to 20:06 in Game 4 and he picked up an assist in Game 5. Makar has averaged 17:57 of ice time per contest while posting a plus-4 rating and two points over three outings.
Defenseman Samuel Girard (upper body) stands a “good chance” of being healthy going into Round 2 of the postseason, per coach Jared Bednar. Girard has been skating in a no-contact jersey. Bednar added that Girard’s status will “be determined over the next couple days.” Game 1 for the Avalanche in Round 2 will occur on Friday versus San Jose.
Center Derick Brassard also should be good to go. He sat out three games during Colorado’s first-round series against Calgary due to flu-like symptoms.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.18
- Shots: 33.10
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.86
Defense
- Goals: 2.95
- Shots: 31.97
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.36
Why Bet on San Jose?
The Sharks had a historic comeback win in Game 7 of their first-round series vs. Vegas on Tuesday, winning 5-4 in overtime. Vegas held a 3-0 lead in the third period, but the Sharks stormed back on a five-minute power play due to a major penalty — Cody Eakin was given a five-minute major for cross-checking Joe Pavelski, who landed awkwardly and was injured on the play — scored four unanswered goals in rapid succession.The Knights would go on to tie the game in the final minute to force overtime, but the Sharks clinched the series with a goal from Barclay Goodrow. Kevin Labanc had a goal and three assists on all four Sharks goals in regulation to become the first player in NHL history to record four points in a period during a Game 7.
San Jose matched the NHL record for most power-play goals in a playoff period, a mark last achieved by Washington in Game 3 of the 2016 first round (4 PPG in 3rd). The Sharks’ four strikes in 4:01 were the eighth-fastest four goals by one team in Stanley Cup Playoffs history and fastest since the Blues in Game 3 of the 1998 Conference Quarterfinals (3:07 – also all PPG). The Sharks, who earned a double-overtime win in Game 6, won consecutive playoff games in overtime for the second time in franchise history (also 2011).
The Sharks became the second team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal third-period deficit to win a Game 7, joining Boston in the 2013 first round vs. Toronto. Only three other teams in league history have overcome a three-goal deficit at any point to win a Game 7.
There was no update on Joe Pavelski (upper body) immediately following Game 7. Pavelski hit his head on the ice and there was blood seen. It would be a big loss if he misses any time in this series.
Logan Couture is tied for the league-lead in playoff goals with six. Couture is on a three-game goal scoring streak and he’s contributed at least a goal in four of his last five contests. He now has 40 career playoff goals, which puts him in a tie with Jonathan Toews place for seventh place among all active players.
In terms of players still in the 2019 postseason, only teammate Joe Pavelski (46) and Alex Ovechkin (65) have more career playoff goals. Erik Karlsson finished the first round with nine assists, including the primary helper on the Goodrow winner, to establish a franchise record for most assists in a playoff series.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.51
- Shots: 33.03
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.72
Defense
- Goals: 3.21
- Shots: 28.84
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.15
Avalanche vs Sharks 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Trends
- Home team is 38-17 in the last 55 meetings
- Favorite is 39-16 in the last 55 meetings
- Over is 8-0-1 in the last 9 meetings in San Jose
- Colorado is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against San Jose
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Colorado’s last 10 games on the road
- San Jose is 6-3 SU in their last 9 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose’s last 8 games
