Free NHL Picks Today: San Jose Sharks vs Seattle Kraken 2/20/23

The San Jose Sharks (17-29-11) will be hoping to snap their losing streak when they welcome the Seattle Kraken (32-18-6) at SAP Center at San Jose on Monday. Seattle is coming off a 4-2 win over the Red Wings on Saturday.

Jordan Eberle was the top goalscorer for the Kraken with two goals. Philipp Grubauer saved 21 of 23 shots in the win.San Jose lost for the third game in a row, falling 4-2 to the Sabres on Saturday.

Alexander Barabanov and Evgeny Svechnikov both scored once for the Sharks. Kaapo Kahkonen saved only 27 of 30 shots against (.900%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Kraken won the first meeting between the teams this season, an 8-5 victory in November. Andre Burakovsky and Matty Beniers each had three points (1G 2A) to lead Seattle. Timo Meier led San Jose with three goals. Martin Jones got the win despite saving only 21 of 26 shots (.807%).

FACING OFF

Seattle is averaging 3.52 goals per game for the season, fourth in the NHL. The visitors will be looking to improve on that figure against a Sharks team that is allowing 3.65 goals a game (28th).

Meanwhile, San Jose has found the net 2.96 times a game on average, 23rd in the league, and the Kraken are allowing opponents to score 3.05 goals per game (16th).

The Kraken’s 20.37% power play percentage ranks 20th in the league, while the Sharks are 23rd with a conversion rate of 19.61%. San Jose has been more successful at penalty killing, boasting the league’s second-highest PK% at 83.93%. Seattle ranks 31st at 72.12%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 45 points this season, Eberle is the top skater for the Kraken. He has 13 goals and 32 assists in 56 games. In the net, Grubauer (7-9-3) is Seattle’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.86 GAA and a .900% save percentage. Jones (23-9-3) leads the Kraken in games played in goal.

He has a GAA of 2.92 and a save percentage of .891%.Erik Karlsson leads the Sharks in scoring with 74 points (6th in the league). He has 18 goals and 56 assists (3rd) in 57 games. James Reimer (8-14-6) has the best goals against average for San Jose at 3.31. He has a save percentage of .895%.