The San Jose Sharks (18-32-12) will be hoping to snap their losing streak when they welcome the Washington Capitals (30-27-6) at SAP Center at San Jose on Saturday. Washington is coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Ducks on Wednesday. Tom Wilson was the top goalscorer for the Capitals with two goals.
Darcy Kuemper had 21 saves in the win. San Jose is wrapping up a seven-game homestand after a 6-3 loss against the Blues on Thursday, their fourth defeat in a row.
Alexander Barabanov, Logan Couture, and Steven Lorentz scored one apiece for the Sharks. Barabanov added an assist to lead the team in scoring. James Reimer only had 17 saves on 22 shots against (.772%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Sharks won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-1 victory in February. Erik Karlsson led San Jose with three points (1G 2A). Evgeny Kuznetsov scored Washington’s only goal. Kaapo Kahkonen got the win, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923%).
FACING OFF
Washington is averaging 3.02 goals per game for the season, 22nd in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sharks team that is allowing 3.65 goals a game (29th).
Meanwhile, San Jose has found the net 2.94 times a game on average, 23rd in the league, and the Capitals are allowing opponents to score 2.97 goals per game (13th).
The Capitals’ 20.94% power play percentage ranks 15th in the league, while the Sharks are 26th with a conversion rate of 18.29%. San Jose has been more successful at penalty killing, boasting the league’s fifth-highest PK% at 83.06%. Washington ranks eighth at 82.35%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 57 points this season, Alex Ovechkin is the top skater for the Capitals. He has 33 goals and 24 assists in 58 games. In the net, Charlie Lindgren (12-8-2) is Washington’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.74 GAA and a .905% save percentage.
Kuemper (18-19-4) leads the Capitals in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.76 and a save percentage of .909%. Karlsson leads the Sharks in scoring with 78 points (7th in the league). He has 19 goals and 59 assists (3rd). Reimer (9-15-6) has the best goals against average for San Jose at 3.29. He has a save percentage of .895%.
HOME AND AWAY
Washington is 15-14-3 away from Capital One Arena this season. San Jose has dropped four in a row at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Washington Capitals (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
