The Anaheim Ducks (2-6-1) hope to continue their winning ways on Monday night at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, as they take on their Pacific Division rival, the San Jose Sharks (3-8-0). The puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST.
For making Anaheim Ducks vs San Jose Sharks predictions, it’s worth noting that veteran John Gibson is expected to start for Anaheim.
The American has continued his struggles from a season ago as he has a 2-5-1 record to go along with a 4.23 goals-against average (GAA) and .888 save percentage.
Kaapo Kahkonen is the projected starter for the Sharks. He has a 3.32 GAA and a .875 save percentage.
Previous Scoreboards
Ducks Scoreboards
Anaheim, which sits in last place for NHL standings in the Pacific Division, halted a seven-game losing streak on Sunday night with a 4-3 overtime win against the slumping Toronto Maple Leafs.
They’ve been one of the worst NHL teams in the league this season but are hoping a win against a Stanley Cup contender can turn things around. The Ducks lost its prior seven games by a combined score of 32-11.
Sharks Scoreboards
San Jose, which sits seventh in the Pacific Division, is coming off a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home. The Sharks schedule has been balanced, but they are now just 1-5-0 on home ice.
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Analysis
Sharks as the moneyline favorite at -128. Ducks betting odds on the moneyline, meanwhile, are +116.
San Jose is also paying out +185 on the -1.5 puckline, while the Ducks are paying out -215 on the +1.5 puckline. The over/under is six. The over pays out +102, and the under pays out -113.
Can Anaheim’s Defense Step Up?
The offense isn’t the Ducks only problem. Yes, the team ranks 31st in goals per game at 2.22, but they’re also 30th in goals allowed per game at 4.22.
Anaheim has also allowed the most shots in the league (37.2). Moreover, they have a terrible penalty kill (63.6 percent and 31st in the league) and take the 27th most penalty minutes per game.
Ducks’ Defense
This has made things tough for the Ducks defense, which isn’t that impressive, to begin with. Dmitry Kulikov, a veteran now with his seventh NHL team, is averaging more than 20 minutes per game and leads Ducks defensemen in NHL player stats with three points.
Offseason acquisition John Klingberg has just two assists in nine games and is a minus-6. Of course, it hasn’t helped that Gibson has allowed 30 goals in just eight starts.
San Jose Looking to Keep Rolling
While San Jose is just 3-8-0 this season, they’re showing signs of turning the corner before the Ducks vs Sharks predictions. Each of the team’s last six games has been decided by one goal, and the Sharks are 3-3 during that stretch.
Erik Karlsson is having a resurgent season for the Sharks. The veteran defenseman has 11 points in 11 games and leads the team in scoring. Logan Couture ranks second with seven points in 11 games.
San Jose ranks last in the league in goals per game, however, at 2.18 per game. Both of these teams struggle to score but have also allowed more goals than average – something has to give.
NHL Injury Report
The Ducks defense will be shorthanded for likely the remainder of the season as third-year defenseman Jamie Drysdale landed on the NHL injury report over the weekend.
Drysdale, who had 32 points last season, suffered a shoulder injury against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.
San Jose, most notably, is without defenseman Markus Nutivaara, who has been sidelined since the preseason with a lower-body injury.
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Preview
You should know how each team has performed against the spread before making any Ducks vs Sharks predictions. San Jose is 6-3 on the puckline this season, while the Ducks are 2-7.
The over has hit in four of 11 games for the Sharks and four of eight games for the Ducks.
The over has been more likely to hit than the under in Sharks home games, however. It’s also been more likely to hit than the under in Ducks road games.
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Prediction
We’re in for a shootout, offensively speaking, on Tuesday night in San Jose.
It’s a battle between the worst defensive teams in the league, and betting trends seem to suggest the over is more likely to hit than the under. Expect a high-scoring Sharks win.
NHL Pick: Over 5.5 (-120)
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