We have a Pacific Division tilt in Tuesday’s nightcap with the San Jose Sharks hosting the Anaheim Ducks. The last time these two teams squared off, Anaheim recorded a 5-2 road victory.
Will we see another high-scoring affair, or can the goaltending step up this time around? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Ducks vs Sharks on Tuesday, November 1.
Ducks vs Sharks best odds
Ducks vs Sharks picks and predictions
The Ducks enter this game in poor form, losing seven of their first nine contests of the season. Primarily, the suspect defense and goaltending are to blame for this rough start.
At 5v5, Anaheim ranks just 30th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). Ineffective roster construction on the back end, with a defense that features no exceptionally talented defensive-minded defensemen, has been a major contributing factor.
Backing up this subpar defense is the projected starting goaltender for this contest, John Gibson. Through eight starts, Gibson is 2-5-1 with a .888 SV% and 4.23 GAA. And across his last four outings against San Jose, the Ducks netminder is 1-2-1 with a .890 SV% and 3.35 GAA. Across the ice, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen is the confirmed starter for the Sharks.
Like Gibson, Kahkonen has not had a strong year as he is just 1-3 with a .875 SV% and 3.32 GAA through four starts. If he qualified, he would rank 30th among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5v5.
Across his last three starts against Anaheim, Kahkonen has posted a .897 SV% and 3.35 GAA. Now, to be fairer to Kahkonen, the defense in front of him is not able to give him a ton of confidence between the pipes.
At 5v5, the Sharks rank 21st in the league in xGA/60. Similar to Anaheim, the Sharks’ roster is poorly constructed on the back end in terms of defensive prowess as their only good blue liner — Erik Karlsson — is only valuable offensively. While the Over has not been the strongest bet for either club this season, now is a good time to buy low on a total that should not be at just six.
My best bet: Over 6 (-102 at FanDuel)
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Ducks vs Sharks moneyline analysis
I would lean toward the Sharks moneyline at -125 in NHL odds, but I don't feel strongly enough to make a play. This game is a prime letdown spot for Anaheim after its comeback 4-3 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While the Ducks have started the year in poor form, I believe they are slightly better than the product they have been putting on the ice. An extremely young team, they need more time to develop and mesh together but the long-term outlook for Anaheim is promising.
On the other hand, San Jose has also struggled to start the year as the Sharks are just 3-8. They have been more competitive over their last four contests as they have wins over the Philadelphia Flyers and Maple Leafs while losing by just one goal to Tampa Bay and by two to Vegas.
Looking forward, I am not as confident in the Sharks’ outlook, but on home ice against an Anaheim team in a potential letdown spot, San Jose is probably the play to make if you want to pick a side.
Ducks vs Sharks Over/Under analysis
The reason this total is not at 6.5 is that both offenses have been underwhelming to start the season. However, there should be enough individual talent to get this game to at least six total goals scored.
Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins has tried to look for a more balanced offensive production through the lineup by splitting up Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras, their two most talented offensive players. Now, the top six consists of an Adam Henrique-Zegras-Frank Vatrano line and a Mason McTavish-Ryan Strome-Terry line.
This lineup change worked excellently against Toronto with a 4-3 victory that saw the game go Over the total. On the other hand, San Jose has seen six or more total goals scored in each of their last three games as well.
Ducks vs Sharks betting trend to know
The Over is 3-0-1 across San Jose's last four home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs Sharks.
Ducks vs Sharks game info
| Location: | SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA |
| Date: | Tuesday, November 1, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
