Before the start of each season, we all have a general idea of what we think each team will do. Given the moves made in the offseason, we get an idea of which teams are serious about their NHL odds to win the 2018 Stanley Cup and which teams will struggle. The one situation that is tough to gauge is when a new franchise is introduced into the league. Those teams end up being pieced together using veterans who have bounced around from place to place, as well as a few free agent pick-ups who are expected to provide some sort of offensive or defensive spark.
The first season prognosis for a new team is never really very good, which is why what the Vegas Golden Knights are doing is so astonishing. They have instantly gelled as a team and are on the way to winning the Pacific Division in their first year of existence. The San Jose Sharks are the one team that can still probably catch them, so the meeting between these two teams on Thursday night is one to watch. The Sharks are in as a 1 ½ goal favorite.
The Sharks are middle of the pack in scoring, but top 10 in the defensive side of things. Their real strength lies in their penalty killing, where they are currently second in the league. This team is also solid at home, going 22-11-3 in their own building.
Las Vegas at San Jose NHL Odds & Expert Pick
🎥 Bellemare previews the road trip in San Jose and Colorado with Gary Lawless in this @CreditOneBank One-on-One pic.twitter.com/9fXOHcyn8P
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) 22 de marzo de 2018
- When: Thursday, March 22 at 10 PM EST
- Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
- TV: NBCSN
- Radio: 101.1 FM (Las Vegas) / 98.5 FM (San Jose)
- NHL Odds: San Jose Sharks -1.5 (Over/Under at 6)
Team Records
- All: Vegas Golden Knights 47-21-5 / San Jose Sharks 41-23-9
- Home: Vegas Golden Knights 26-9-2 / San Jose Sharks 22-11-3
- Away: Vegas Golden Knights 21-12-3 / San Jose Sharks 19-12-6
- ATS: Vegas Golden Knights 48-25 / San Jose Sharks 35-38
- Over/Under: Vegas Golden Knights 38-33-2 / San Jose Sharks 31-41-1
Updated Stanley Cup Odds – March 21st Edition
Recent Head to Head (Last 2 Games)
- Score: Vegas Golden Knights 5.00 / San Jose Sharks 3.50
- Shots: Vegas Golden Knights 33.00 / San Jose Sharks 32.00
- Power Play Goals: Vegas Golden Knights 3 / San Jose Sharks 3
- Number of Power Plays: Vegas Golden Knights 10 / San Jose Sharks 6
- Power Play Percentage: Vegas Golden Knights 30.00 / San Jose Sharks 50.00
- Penalty Kill Percentage: Vegas Golden Knights 50.00 / San Jose Sharks 70.00
Why Consider the Golden Knights NHL Odds?
Perhaps the most surprising about the performance of the Golden Knights this season has been their ability to put the puck in the net. New teams very often struggle to score, simply because they generally don’t have a proven goal scorer on the team, but this group has spread out the goals brilliantly. William Karlsson has been brilliant, scoring 39 goals this season, but there are also 8 other players who have cracked double digits, including 4 players who have crossed the 20-goal mark. One of the best signings that the Golden Knights made in the offseason was acquiring Marc Andre Fleury from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The veteran goalie has been nothing short of spectacular all year, leading the league or sitting near the top in all the goaltending categories. Vegas has played San Jose twice already this season, picking up the win both times. They are a solid 21-12-3 on the road.Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.40
- Shots: 32.88
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.97
- Goals: 2.74
- Shots: 30.68
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.32
Why Consider the Sharks NHL Odds?
The Sharks come into this one on a very good run of form, winning 5 in a row and 8 of their last 10. That run has taken them into second in the Pacific Division, although still 8 points back of the Vegas Knights. While they will tell you that they are still in the hunt for a division crown, the reality here is that second is probably more realistic. They have a couple of teams breathing down their necks right behind them, and it could be suggested that holding them off is perhaps more important than trying to make a run at a division crown that is probably going to fall short.
The Sharks are middle of the pack in scoring, but top 10 in the defensive side of things. Their real strength lies in their penalty killing, where they are currently second in the league. This team is also solid at home, going 22-11-3 in their own building.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.08
- Shots: 32.77
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.83
- Goals: 2.75
- Shots: 30.41
- PP/PK Percentage: 15.69
Latest NHL Betting Trends
- Golden Knights are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games
- Golden Knights are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Vegas’s last 9 games
- Sharks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
- Sharks are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Jose’s last 5 games
