San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, Preview, and Odds

Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas - Championship Sunday

The San Jose Sharks face the Pittsburgh Penguins with both teams heading in opposite directions this season. The Sharks have a 14-25-10 record and are one of the worst teams in the Pacific Division while the Penguins have a 24-15-9 record and are in the middle of the Metropolitan Division. Both teams look to improve in their divisions and the upcoming game should be a good one as a result.

Sharks defense has disappointed this season

The Sharks are having a season to forget with their offense struggling and scoring only 2.98 goals per game. Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, and Logan Couture have scored 59 goals and 69 assists while defenseman Erik Karlsson is adding 15 goals and 49 assists from the point but the rest of the offense has struggled. Only six skaters have 10 goals or more and opponents can limit the top-heavy offense as a result.

The offense has struggled but the defense has let the Sharks down, allowing 3.71 goals per game. Erik Karlsson and Jaycob Megna have combined for 4.7 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to carry the puck into the offensive zone and find open shots on the net. In addition, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen has struggled with a .869 save percentage and a 3.88 goals-against average on 550 shots.

Penguins have been carried by their offense

The Penguins are having a promising season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.25 goals per game with nine goals in the last two games. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel have scored 60 goals and 90 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has also been great. Rickard Rakell, Jason Zucker, and Bryan Rust have combined for 42 goals and 50 assists while defensemen Kris Letang and Jeff Petry have added seven goals and 28 assists from the point to open up the offense.

The offense has been great but the defense has struggled, allowing 3.04 goals per game including nine goals in the last two games. Marcus Pettersson and Brian Dumoulin have combined for 4.3 defensive point shares and 185 blocked shots but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. The one bright spot has been the play of goaltender Tristan Jarry who has a .921 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average on 886 shots.

Best Bets for this Game

Full-Game Side Bet

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The Sharks look to pull off the upset but the Penguins look to bounce back from a rough overtime loss and control this game on both ends of the ice. The Penguins, who average 3.25 goals per game, should pile on the goals with Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with great puck movement. The Penguins should limit a Sharks offense that averages only 2.98 goals per game with Marcus Pettersson, Brian Dumoulin, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Tristan Jarry to make plenty of big saves. The Penguins should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win on their home ice.

Prediction: Penguins -1.5 (-110)

Full-Game Total Pick

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Both defenses have been awful this year and the upcoming game should reflect that with both forward units finding the back of the net throughout the game. The Sharks should create plenty of scoring chances against a Penguins defense that allows 3.04 goals per game with Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with great puck movement while Erik Karlsson generates shots on the net from the blue line. The Penguins, who have scored nine goals in the last two games, should run up the score against a Sharks defense that is allowing 3.71 goals per game, with Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, and the rest of the forward unit crashing the net on the rush and creating open shots with great puck movement while Kris Letang and Jeff Petry pick apart the Sharks defense from the point. The Over should cover in a high-scoring game with both offenses stepping up.

Take the Over on 6.5 goals.

Prediction: Over 6.5

Mike Fink is a sports writer and a passionate football fan. After graduating from college, Fink picked up the passion he had since being a young child in following and covering all things sports and we are very excited to have him as a part of the StatSalt team. In recent weeks, Mike started a podcast which you can find on Spotify, called "The Mike and Grover Show" and it discusses all things football. He covers all forms of sports betting and also bets on all of the plays he gives out. Mike would advise hockey betting since the odds give you great payouts "Hockey is built to bet the Money Line Underdogs. Be sure and follow him on a daily basis.