Ducks vs Sharks Betting Preview: Sharks Prey on Homesick Ducks

Even at the bottom of their division, the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks can renew their rivalry. The Ducks vs Sharks betting preview pegs San Jose, the home team, as the favorite. Anaheim has yet to win a road game this season with their record sitting at 0-5-1. The Sharks are the worst offensive team in the NHL and struggle to score while the Ducks are one of the three worst defensive teams.

Ducks vs Sharks Game Info

The Ducks are Already Drowning

It’s only been nine games but the Ducks’ prospects this NHL season are already as dark as the deep sea. The Ducks, simply put, are not doing anything well. This young team was supposed to be good offensively at least. But Anaheim is scoring just 2.22 goals per game, which is better than only one team, the Sharks. Anaheim has scored one or fewer goals in four of its six road games.

On defense; the Ducks are still just as bad as last season. The team is letting in 4.22 goals per game on 37.2 shots – the latter is the most in the league. John Gibson had a nice bounce-back game against Toronto. But on the road, the 29-year-old is getting lit up, allowing nearly five goals per game with a .872 save percentage (SV%).

Special teams are no better for Anaheim: The Ducks are second-worst in the league in both the power play (PP) and penalty kill (PK). Anaheim has scored just two PP goals but has given up 12. With how atrocious the Ducks are playing, even a lowly team like San Jose is favored against them as the Ducks vs Sharks betting preview indicates.

“We’re starting to learn as a team to just stick with it and don’t get frustrated when things don’t go our way,” Ducks defenseman Dmitry Kulikov said following their win against Toronto. “We’ll turn it around eventually.”

Sharks Keep Searching for Offense

Perhaps a game against Anaheim is what the Sharks need to get its offense flowing again. San Jose is managing just 2.18 goals per game. Not only are the Sharks typically outplayed on the ice, but their subpar shooting accuracy also prevents them from threatening opponents with scoring. The trio of Erik Karlsson, Nico Sturm, and Logan Couture have combined to score 15 of San Jose’s 24 goals.

The rest of the team will need to get it going. Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier, the Sharks’ two leading goal-scorers last season, have just two goals combined despite 75 shots on net. At some point, they’ll start lighting the lamp and move up the San Jose Sharks standings.

And unlike Anaheim, San Jose is getting better goaltending. James Reimer may only be 2-5-0 for the season, but he’s done decently with what he’s worked with. He hasn’t allowed a goal on the PP though his even-strength numbers at .894 SV% could improve.

San Jose is favored per the Ducks vs Sharks betting preview. To cash as chalk, San Jose will need to snap out of its funk against Anaheim. The Sharks have won just one of its last five home games against Anaheim. And this season, the Sharks are just 1-5-0 at home. If San Jose can start defending home ice, it will not only move up the NHL standings 2022 but also be a more reliable team in the online sportsbook.

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