The Florida Panthers (5-4-1), one of the league’s top penalty killing teams, travel to face the San Jose Sharks (3-8-1) and their weak power play offense at SAP Center at San Jose on Thursday. Florida is coming off a 3-1 loss against the Coyotes on Tuesday, their fourth consecutive defeat away from home.
The Panthers committed six penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Colin White was the only player to find the net for the Panthers. Spencer Knight saved only 18 of 20 shots against (.900%) in the loss.San Jose fell 6-5 (OT) to the Ducks on Tuesday. Erik Karlsson scored a hat trick to lead the Sharks. Kaapo Kahkonen only had 39 saves on 44 shots against (.886%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Panthers won both games between the teams last season, including a 3-2 (OT) victory in their final meeting in March, their sixth straight win against San Jose. Frank Vatrano led Florida with two goals. Tomas Hertl led San Jose with two points (0G 2A). Knight got the win, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923%).
FACING OFF
Florida is averaging 3.00 goals per game so far this season, 19th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sharks team that is allowing 3.25 goals a game (19th). Meanwhile, San Jose has found the net 2.42 times a game on average, 31st in the league, and the Panthers are allowing opponents to score 3.10 goals per game (14th).
Florida averages more shots (38.7) than most teams in the league, ranking second, though the team’s 7.8% shooting percentage is 32nd. San Jose’s average of 28.7 attempts ranks 26th.Expect a few power play opportunities for the Sharks, as the Panthers are averaging 5.30 penalties per game, fourth-most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 11.00 penalty minutes a game ranks ninth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.50 times a game (5th-fewest in the league) for an average of 7.75 minutes (8th-fewest).The Panthers’ 30th-ranked power play offense (9.09%) will be put to the test against the Sharks, who are the league’s second-best penalty killing team (94.44%). San Jose, meanwhile, has scored on 16.67% of their power play opportunities (25th), which the hosts will be aiming to build on against Florida’s 27th-ranked 71.79% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 13 points this season, seventh-most in the NHL, Matthew Tkachuk is the top skater for the Panthers. He has five goals and eight assists in 10 games. In the net, Knight (3-0-0) is Florida’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.67 GAA and a .899% save percentage. Sergei Bobrovsky (2-3-1) leads the Panthers in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.07 and a save percentage of .897%.
Karlsson leads the Sharks in scoring with 15 points. He has nine goals (8th) and six assists. James Reimer (2-5-0) has the best goals against average for San Jose at 2.77. He has a save percentage of .914%.
HOME AND AWAY
Florida is 2-4-0 on the road this season. San Jose is 1-5-1 at SAP Center at San Jose this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Florida Panthers (-225)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
