The Anaheim Ducks (3-7-1) and their suffocating penalty killing defense are on the road to face the San Jose Sharks (3-8-2), one of the NHL’s weakest power play offenses, at SAP Center at San Jose on Saturday. Anaheim is coming off a high-scoring 8-5 loss against the Canucks on Thursday. The Ducks committed four penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals.
Five players found the net for the Ducks. Troy Terry scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. John Gibson only had 39 saves on 46 shots against (.847%) in the loss.San Jose lost for the third game in a row, falling 4-3 (SO) to the Panthers on Thursday.
Erik Karlsson, Timo Meier, and Matt Benning each scored once for the Sharks. Karlsson added two assists to lead the team in scoring. James Reimer had a great performance with 41 saves (.931%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Ducks won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-5 (SO) victory on November 1. Adam Henrique (2G 0A), Kevin Shattenkirk (0G 2A), and Terry (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Anaheim. Karlsson led San Jose with four points (3G 1A). Anthony Stolarz got the win despite saving only 39 of 44 shots (.886%).
FACING OFF
Anaheim is averaging 2.73 goals per game for the season, 26th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sharks team that is allowing 3.23 goals a game (20th). Meanwhile, San Jose has found the net 2.46 times a game on average, 31st in the league, and will be looking to exploit the Ducks’ weak defense, which is allowing opponents to score a league-worst 4.64 goals per game.
The Ducks’ 30th-ranked power play offense (12.12%) will be put to the test against the Sharks, who are the league’s second-best penalty killing team (92.31%). San Jose, meanwhile, has scored on 18.42% of their power play opportunities (23rd), which the hosts will be aiming to build on against Anaheim’s 31st-ranked 61.54% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 15 points this season, Terry is the top skater for the Ducks. He is among the league leaders with 10 assists (9th) and has added five goals of his own. In the net, Stolarz (1-1-0) is Anaheim’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 3.96 GAA and a .890% save percentage. Gibson (2-6-1) leads the Ducks in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 4.58 and a save percentage of .883%.Karlsson leads the Sharks in scoring with 18 points (4th in the league). He has 10 goals (2nd in the league) and eight assists in 13 games. Reimer (2-5-1) has the best goals against average for San Jose at 2.77. He has a save percentage of .917%.
HOME AND AWAY
Anaheim is 1-6-1 away from home this season. San Jose is looking to snap a three-game losing run at SAP Center at San Jose this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
SJ Sharks (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
