Flyers vs. Sharks Pick
Can the San Jose Sharks open the season with a home win when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at 10:30PM ET? Here’s our NHL Prediction for the game.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Sharks are favored at home tonight, as they are getting odds of -150 to win. The Flyers are listed with a money line of +130 to win, while the over/under total for the contest has been set at 5.5 goals. The Sharks have won six of their last seven meetings with the Eagles. Tonight’s contest takes place from the SAP Center in San Jose, California and will air live on NBCSN
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The Sharks are coming off a 46-29-7 record in 2016-17 where it posted a 26-11-4 record at home. San Jose lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Oilers in six games. San Jose had a +20 goal differential for the season. The Sharks lost one of their best players in Patrick Marleau. He had 27 goals last season, but signed a deal with the Maple Leafs in the offseason. Defenseman Brent Burns led the team last season with 29 goals and 47 assists while Joe Pavelski had 29 goals and 39 assists.
The Flyers missed out on the playoffs last season after going 39-33-10 in 2016-17. The Flyers really struggled on the road, going 14-22-5. Philadelphia had a -17 goal differential as well. Philly traded away Brayden Schenn in the offseason after he amassed 25 goals and 30 assists last season. Goalie Steve Mason also signed with the Jets in the offseason. Philly signed Brian Elliott to replace him. Elliott had a .910 save percentage and 2.55 GAA with the Flames last season. Jakub Voracek led the team in points last year with 61 (20G, 41 AA) while Wayne Simmonds had 31 goals.
Starting on the West Coast is a tough draw for the Flyers. Philly wasn’t a good road team last year and the team is working in a lot of new pieces, including a new starting goalie. Philadelphia is just 1-9-1 in its last 11 trips to San Jose and 4-17-2 in its last 23 overall meetings with the Sharks. Look for San Jose to start the season right with a win at home.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: SAN JOSE SHARKS -150