It’s been hell thus far this season for the New Jersey Devils. They’re still winless through three games and are on the verge of joining the 2001-02 Devils team as the only ones in franchise history to start a campaign with four-consecutive losses. Unlike the Devils, the San Jose Sharks are on win streak, one that they intend to extend when they take on New Jersey.
For more NHL, you can also read our preview of Wild vs. Kings.
[sc:NHLArticles ]San Jose Sharks vs. New Jersey Devils Betting Preview
Where: Prudential Center, Newark
When: Friday, October 16, 2015 7:00 PM ET
Line: San Jose Sharks (-155) vs. New Jersey Devils (+135); total: 5.0– view all NHL lines
Betting on the San Jose Sharks
[sc:NHL240 ]The Sharks are staying true to their name and have been eating their opponents alive this early in their 2015-16 campaign. They kicked off their season with a 5-1 win over West Coast nemesis LA Kings and then blanked the Anaheim Ducks, 2-0, before crushing the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, 5-0.
After going through three teams expected to be in the postseason, San Jose should find it as a sort of a reprieve that it would face next the going-nowhere Devils, who are 0-3-0 thus far. The Sharks, however, can’t expect New Jersey to just bend over and give them the victory so continuing what’s been working for them is a top priority later tonight.
The Sharks have been drawing success from their offense that has been averaging 4.0 goals per game, the highest among all NHL teams. The Sharks are stacked from the top to the bottom line, which could spell disaster for a New Jersey side that allows 3.7 goals per contest. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have each scored two goals and an assist, while Joe Pavelski tops the team with four points on a goal and three assists.
San Jose’s defense has been equally dependable too with 25-year-old netminder Martin Jones showing tons of promise.
Jones, who turned away all 31 shots he faced in the Caps game, is 3-0 with a 0.33 GAA and .987 SV% (all top 5 numbers in the league). The Sharks are also very tough against the power play, as they enter tonight’s game a perfect 11-for-11 on the penalty kill.
San Jose is 4-1 in its last five games against the Devils.
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Betting on the New Jersey Devils
It’s been all bad for the Devils. In need of a win to boost the team’s morale, the Devils welcome San Jose later tonight looking to score their first win of the season.
In their most recent outing, the Devils absorbed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The Devils outshot Nashville, 23-20, but were heavily weighed down by their defense, which allowed the Preds to score a power-play and short-handed goal.
San Jose is an unforgiving offensive team so New Jersey will have to find a fix to its leaky defense, particularly on the penalty kill. The Devils’ special team has allowed three power play goals this season.
Netminder Cory Schneider is expected to make the start tonight for the Devils after missing Tuesday’s game because of personal reasons. He has a 3.39 GAA in 10 career starts against the Sharks.
New Jersey apparently also doesn’t have the offense to compensate for the team’s blatant incompetence on defense. In fact, the Devils are scoring just 1.7 goals per game. Mike Cammalleri leads the team with three points, followed by only seven Devils, who have at least a point on their ledgers.
Writer’s Prediction
San Jose (-155) wins, 4-2.
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