When players dream of hoisting the Stanley Cup, most probably imagine doing so in front of their home fans. The reality is that every single one of them would gladly lift it wherever they got the chance, but there just seems to be something a little extra special about skating around home ice with the cup after a grueling playoff run. The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to have the opportunity to do just that on Thursday night when they head home for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks. This is a golden opportunity for the Penguins, but one that probably also comes with a little bit of the jitters. That final game is sometimes the toughest to win, and every game in this series has been close, so you can bet that Pittsburgh are taking nothing for granted. You can keep up with the NHL odds for this one at MyBookie.ag.

How To Bet the Sharks vs Penguins Stanley Cup Game 5 Odds, TV & Game Info

When: Thursday, June 9 at 8 PM EST Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh TV: NBC NHL Odds: Penguins -165

Why bet on the San Jose Sharks

The biggest problem that the Sharks have heading into this critical Game 5 is their seeming inability to create any sort of offense against the Penguins. Not only are they struggling to find the net, they are also failing to generate a lot of scoring opportunities. The mot shots they have generated in a single game in this series is 26, which falls well short of the 35-40 that Pittsburgh are putting up every night. Shots on goal are not a complete indicator of anything, though, as the Sharks had their best defensive effort in Game 4, holding the Pens to just 20 shots, but still losing 3-1. San Jose cannot afford to be timid in Game 5, and they need to try and get an early jump on a team that is sure to be a little tight.

Why bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins

Coming into this series, the general consensus was that we would see a lot of scoring, but that has not been the case. The Penguins are an offensive juggernaut, but they have taken a 3-1 lead in this series thanks in large part to some stifling defensive play. They have given up just 7 goals in the 4 games so far, and are deservedly on the brink of skating away as Stanley Cup Champions. The Penguins are an impressive 9-3 on home ice during these playoffs, and with 2 of the last 3 games of this series set to be played in Pittsburgh, it would appear that the writing may be on the wall for the Sharks.

My Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I just don’t see any way that San Jose climbs out of the hole that has been dug for them in this series. Yes, the games have been close, but it is the Penguins who have routinely found a way to win. Same rules apply here, and I’m sure the live odds will back me up on this one.San Jose Sharks 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 4