Avalanche vs. Sharks Prediction
The San Jose Sharks won their last three games to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the first round. Can San Jose stay hot tonight when it hosts the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals?
Game Snapshot
5 Colorado Avalanche at 6 San Jose Sharks
Friday, April 26, 2019
SAP Center at 10:08PM ET
TV: NBCSN
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Public Betting InFormation
According to oddsmakers, the Sharks are a -135 favorite on the moneyline. The Avalanche are a +115 underdog, while the over-under is set at 6 goals. As of Friday afternoon, 58 percent of public bets are siding with host San Jose. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Avs dominate Game 5
Colorado clinched the first round series with a 5-1 victory one week ago at Calgary in Game 5. The Avalanche scored first midway through the first period on a Gabriel Landeskog goal assisted by Tyson Barrie and Nathan MacKinnon. Mikko Rantanen made it 2-0 later in the first with assists going to Cale Makar and Colin Wilson. The Flames cut it to 2-1 late in the first, but the Avs proceeded to score three unanswered goals to put it away. Wilson pushed the lead to 3-1 with 13:06 left in the second period on an assist from Rantanen. Wilson scored again on the power play with 5:13 remaining in the second on assists from MacKinnon and Barrie. Rantanen completed the scoring 57 seconds into the third period on the power play off assists from Barrie and MacKinnon. Philipp Grubauer stopped 28 of 29 shots sent his way in the winning effort.
Sharks rally, win in OT
San Jose scored four power-play goals in four minutes during a thrill ride of a third-period Tuesday night in Game 7 at home versus Las Vegas, then won it with another goal in overtime. The game-winning goal in OT was scored by Barclay Goodrow with 1:41 left off assists by Erik Karlsson and Marcus Sorensen. The Sharks trailed 3-0 in the third period until the power play barrage started with a Logan Couture goal at the 10:40 mark on assists from Kevin Labanc and Tomas Hertl. Hertl scored 49 seconds later with assists courtesy of Karlsson and Labanc. Couture tied it at 3-3 a couple minutes later on assists by Brent Burns and Labanc. Labanc gave San Jose its first lead at the 6:39 mark off an assist from Timo Meier. The Golden Knights managed to tie it back up with 47 seconds remaining to force overtime, but the Sharks ultimately had the last laugh. Martin Jones registered 34 saves on 38 shots in the win.
NHL Betting Trends
Colorado
The Avalanche are 4-0 in their last four games as an underdog. Colorado is 36-76 in its last 112 road games.
San Jose
The Sharks are 5-1 in their last six games as a home favorite. San Jose is 37-17 in the last 54 meetings.
Prediction:
San Jose did what it had to do in heart-racing fashion during the first round, which is somehow find a way to survive and advance. The Sharks have had a lot of success against Colorado through the years and although MacKinnon is having a fantastic postseason through one round, I don’t know if all the pieces around him are enough for the Avs to carve out a Game 1 road win here. Expect the Sharks’ offense to overwhelm Colorado tonight to get on the board first in this series.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: SAN JOSE SHARKS -135