Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks odds, picks and predictions
The Vegas Golden Knights (1-0-0) and the San Jose Sharks meet Thursday at SAP Center at San Jose. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Golden Knights vs. Sharksodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Golden Knights picked up the 4-1 victory Tuesday over the Seattle Kraken on Opening Night at T-Mobile Arena, as Vegas was not affected by the raising of the Stanley Cup championship banner. Some teams get off to a sluggish start, but VGK fired out to a 3-0 lead by early in the 2nd period and never looked back.
The Sharks probably wish it was anybody else visiting the Bay Area for their home opener. San Jose is just 3-13 in the past 16 tries against Vegas, including a dismal 1-8 mark in the past 9 tries at home against the Golden Knights. The underdog is just 6-21 in the past 27 in the series, too, with the Under going 5-2-2 in the previous 9 matchups at SAP Center.
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Golden Knights at Sharks odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:56 a.m. ET.
Golden Knights at Sharks projected goalies
Logan Thompson (37-13-8, 2.48 GAA, .916 SV%, 3 SO - 2022-23) vs. Kaapo Kahkonen (5-2-0, 2.94 GAA, .905 SV% )
Thompson is confirmed to start Game No. 2 for VGK, after G Adin Hill got the nod in the opener at "The Fortress". Thompson suffered a late-season injury last year and was replaced by Hill who caught fire down the stretch and into the playoffs, eventually being instrumental in Vegas winning it all.
Thompson was fire on the road last season, and he was an All-Star while going 12-4-0 with a 2.63 GAA and .920 SV% away from home, so he certainly is no slouch. He did lose his only appearance against the Sharks on Nov. 15, 2022, allowing 3 goals on 27 shots in a 5-2 setback on home ice.
Kahkonen won just 9 times last season, including a dismal 2-9-6 record with an unseemly 4.34 GAA and .863 SV% in 18 starts on home ice. Oddly enough, he was very sharp in his lone appearance against Vegas, allowing just 2 goals on 38 shots in a narrow 2-1 loss at T-Mobile Arena on Feb. 16.
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Golden Knights at Sharks picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 4, Sharks 2
The Golden Knights (-250) will set you back 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that's way too much risk and not nearly enough reward. Plus, we haven't seen the Sharks (+190) yet, so there is plenty of risk because of that, too. While all indications are that San Jose is going to be pretty terrible again this season, hope springs eternal, especially in the season opener at home.
AVOID.
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS -1.5 (+105) are a less risky play on the road laying the goal and a half.
While Vegas actually split the 4-game season series with the Sharks last season, it did win 4-2 at SAP Center in an early-season visit on Oct. 25, which is a very similar scenario to this game. Expect VGK to pull away with its quick-strike offense, similar to Tuesday's game against Seattle.
UNDER 6.5 (-115) is the lean, but go lightly. Thompson could be a little rusty and Kahkonen certainly gave up his fair share of goals last season -- especially at home.
Still, VGK cashed the Under in its opener Tuesday against a very good offensive Kraken team, so we'll go low on the total, albeit very lightly.
