The New Jersey Devils (2-2-0) host the San Jose Sharks (1-5-0) at Prudential Center on Saturday. San Jose is coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers on Thursday, snapping a run of five defeats in a row. The Sharks committed five penalties in the game, though they held New York without a power play goal. Erik Karlsson, Radim Simek, and Logan Couture scored one apiece for the Sharks.
Karlsson added an assist to lead the team in scoring. James Reimer saved 21 of 23 shots in the win. New Jersey beat the Islanders 4-1 on Thursday. Ondrej Palat scored twice to lead the Devils. Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists to lead the team in scoring. MacKenzie Blackwood saved 16 of 17 shots in the win (.941%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 5-2 victory for the Sharks in November. Timo Meier (2G 0A), Noah Gregor (1G 1A), and Alexander Barabanov (0G 2A) each had two points to lead San Jose. Jesper Bratt and Tomas Tatar were on the scoresheet for New Jersey. Reimer got the win, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941%).
FACING OFF
San Jose is averaging 1.83 goals per game so far this season, worst in the NHL, and they are taking on a Devils team that is allowing 3.25 goals a game (18th). Meanwhile, New Jersey has found the net 3.00 times a game on average, 18th in the league, and the Sharks are allowing opponents to score 3.50 goals per game (20th). New Jersey averages more shots/game (39.8) than most teams in the league, ranking second, though the team’s 7.6% shooting percentage is 30th. With an average of 27.3 attempts, San Jose ranks 27th.
The Sharks’ 9.09% power play percentage ranks 25th in the league, while the Devils are 27th with a conversion rate of 8.33%. San Jose has been equally impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 100.00%. New Jersey ranks seventh at 92.31%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With five points this season, Karlsson is the top skater for the Sharks. He has two goals and three assists in six games. In the net, Reimer (1-3-0) is San Jose’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.77 GAA and a .918% save percentage. Bratt leads the Devils in scoring with seven points.
He has seven assists in four games. Blackwood (2-1-0) has the best goals against average for New Jersey at 2.36. He has a save percentage of .885%.
HOME AND AWAY
San Jose is 1-2-0 on the road this season. New Jersey is 1-1-0 at Prudential Center this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
NJ Devils (-200)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
