The San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks meet in NHL action from the United Center on Tuesday night. Who comes out on top in this battle of the NHL’s cellar dwellers? Let’s dive in and find out with our Sharks vs. Blackhawks Prediction.
San Jose Sharks Team Preview
The San Jose Sharks come into this one looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres last time out. Tomas Hertl has a team-high 13 goals and 17 assists for his team-leading 30 points while Fabian Zetterlund has 18 points with 12 goals. Mikael Granlund has 29 points with a team-high 24 assists while William Eklund also has 18 points with 7 goals and 11 assists on the year. MacKenzie Blackwood’s gone 5-17-2 between the pipes for the Sharks this season, posting a 3.84 GAA and an .892 save percentage while Kaapo Kahkonen is 5-13-1 with a 3.61 GAA and an .899 save percentage this season. The Sharks will play against the Ducks after this game.
San Jose Sharks Team Facts
- The Sharks have lost 14 of their last 15 games.
- The Sharks have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 11 night games.
- The Sharks have lost the third period in eight of their last nine night games.
- The ‘Under 0.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Sharks’ last three night games against opponents on a losing streak.
Chicago Blackhawks Team Preview
The Chicago Blackhawks enter this game looking to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to Dallas last time out. Connor Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 33 points including a team-high 15 goals along with a team-high 18 assists but is out indefinitely with a jaw injury while Philipp Kurashev has 23 points with 8 goals and 15 assists. Jason Dickinson has 20 points with 13 goals and 7 assists and Nick Foligno also has 17 points with 8 goals and 9 assists. Petr Mrazek has gone 10-16-1 with a 3.13 GAA and an .904 save percentage in goal for the Blackhawks while Arvid Soderblom is 2-13-1 with a 4.01 GAA and an .875 save percentage this season.
Chicago Blackhawks Team Facts
- The Blackhawks have lost each of their last eight night games.
- The Blackhawks have covered the puck line in nine of their last 10 home games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Blackhawks have lost the third period in each of their last six night games following a loss.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in nine of the Blackhawks’ last 10 games against Pacific Division opponents.
Sharks vs. Blackhawks Prediction
I’m on the under here. I know the goaltending on both sides sucks, but both of these teams have had some offensive issues coming into this matchup, with Chicago scoring 2 goals or less in 7 of their last 8 games while the Sharks are on no rest, just got shut out and have scored 1 goal or less in 7 of their last 10 games. Give me the under in another offensive struggle.