The Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks meet Thursday in NHL action at the SAP Center. Here’s a Sharks vs. Flames prediction. This article will include a Sharks vs. Flames pick.
Calgary Flames Betting Preview
The Calgary Flames lost to the Maple Leafs and beat the Oilers, and they play the Kings next. The Flames have lost 6 of their last 8 games.
The Calgary Flames are averaging 2.5 goals per game and are scoring 16.4 percent of their power-play opportunities. Matt Coronato leads Calgary with 14 goals, Nazem Kadri has 29 assists, and Mikael Backlund has 135 shots on goal. Defensively, the Calgary Flames are allowing 2.98 goals per game and are killing 82.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Dustin Wolf has allowed 115 goals on 1,099 shots faced, and Devin Cooley has given up 40 goals on 509 shots.
San Jose Sharks Betting Preview
The San Jose Sharks lost to the Blackhawks and Avs, and they play the Oilers next. The Sharks have lost 4 straight games.
The San Jose Sharks are averaging 3.07 goals per game and are scoring 20 percent of their power play opportunities. Macklin Celebrini leads San Jose with 28 goals, Alexander Wennberg has 27 assists and Tyler Toffoli has 129 shots on goal. Defensively, the San Jose Sharks are allowing 3.49 goals per game and are killing 78.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Yaroslav Askarov has given up 112 goals on 998 shots faced, and Alex Nedeljkovic has allowed 66 goals on 675 shots.
Why the San Jose Sharks will win
- The Flames have lost seven of their last eight road games following a win.
- The home team has won each of the Sharks’ last four games.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the last five games between the Flames and Sharks.
- The Flames have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five road games following a win.
- The home team has won the third period in each of the last four games between the Flames and Sharks.
Why the Calgary Flames will win
- The Sharks have lost each of their last four games as home favorites against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Flames have won nine of their last 10 night games against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Sharks have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine games as home favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- The Flames have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight games as underdogs against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Sharks have lost the third period in each of their last five games as home favorites against Western Conference opponents when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Seven of the Flames’ last eight games as underdogs against opponents on a losing streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Six of the Sharks’ last seven home games against Western Conference opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Five of the last six games between two teams from the Pacific Division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Flames’ last eight games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in seven of the Sharks’ last eight games against Pacific Division opponents.
San Jose Sharks Player Prop Facts
- William Smith has scored a goal in each of his last four appearances with the Sharks as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- Macklin Celebrini has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Sharks’ last nine home games against Western Conference opponents.
Calgary Flames Player Prop Facts
- Blake Coleman has scored a goal in three of the Flames’ last four road games against Pacific Division opponents.
- Mikael Backlund has recorded an assist in five of the Flames’ last six games as underdogs against Pacific Division opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The San Jose Sharks rank 29th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.49).
- The San Jose Sharks have recorded the largest comeback win this season—trailing by four goals vs. the Penguins on December 13.
- The Calgary Flames rank 31st in the league for goals per game this season (2.50).
- The Calgary Flames rank 27th in the league in power play percentage this season (16.37%).
Sharks vs Flames Prediction
The Flames have won 8 of the last 9 games against the Sharks, so you can make a case for the road team and the cheap price. However, the Sharks have played the better hockey this season and the Flames don’t win on the road, where they have just 8 wins. Neither team has played in three weeks, so who knows which side is going to show up. The Sharks are at home and have played the better hockey. If the Sharks were going to get a rare win over the Flames, it’s here. I’ll lay on the cheap price.