San Jose (0-0) at Anaheim (0-0)
When: Thursday, April 12th 2018
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Time: 10:30 ET | TV: USA Network
Opening Odds: Anaheim -143/5.5
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Two Pacific Division rivals will meet in the postseason for just the second time ever when the San Jose Sharks visit the Anaheim Ducks in round one of the NHL Western Conference Playoffs on Thursday night at Honda Center. The Sharks and Ducks come into this postseason on different runs as the Ducks have caught fire lately with points in 11 of their final 12 games (10-1-1) to become the ninth team in NHL history to record five consecutive 100-point seasons. Anaheim hopes to have netminder John Gibson back in action for Game 1 as he began practicing Monday after missing the final three games of the regular season with an upper-body injury. San Jose is limping in to the playoffs with poor play down the stretch, losing five of its final six games (1-4-1). The Sharks won three of the four regular-season meetings however, including both games in Anaheim. Three of the four regular-season meetings were decided in a shootout. San Jose dropped the only playoff meeting with the Ducks in a 2009 first-round series in six games. The Sharks were bounced by Edmonton in the first round last postseason after making their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2016, while the Ducks lost to Nashville in the Western Conference final.
The Sharks big trade deadline acquisition was left winger Evander Kane, who provided a spark with nine goals and five assists in 17 games after being acquired from Buffalo. Kane, who finished one goal shy of the career high of 30 he set in 2011-12 while with Winnipeg, returned to the lineup for the regular-season finale after missing two games with an undisclosed injury. Defenseman Brent Burns edged out captain Joe Pavelski for the team lead in points (67-66) after recording two goals and 10 assists over his final 10 games. Goalie Martin Jones lost four of his last five starts and allowed three or more goals in all of those setbacks.
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Gibson was playing well in net down the stretch before suffering his injury April 1st against Colorado, going 14-4-2 with a 1.95 goals-against average after the All-Star break. Anaheim has depth at the position however, as Ryan Miller went 7-0-2 with a 1.97 GAA in 10 games at Honda Center. Rickard Rakell, who led the team in the regular season with career highs of 34 goals and 69 points, is coming off an All-Star season and had seven goals and six assists in 16 postseason games last year.
This is a great rivalry that oddly enough has been played out enough in the postseason. I’m giving the edge to the Ducks based solely on the way each team played down the stretch. Its very important not to come into the postseason slumping, and San Jose has.
Pick: Ducks -145
- Sharks are 4-1 in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Sharks are 4-1 in their last 5 Thursday games.
- Sharks are 21-7 in their last 28 vs. Pacific.
- Sharks are 14-6 in their last 20 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
- Sharks are 51-23-1 in their last 75 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals.
- Sharks are 5-17 in their last 22 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Sharks are 1-4 in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Sharks are 1-5 in their last 6 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Sharks are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Sharks are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
- Sharks are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.
- Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
- Ducks are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
- Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Ducks are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Ducks are 7-1 in their last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Ducks are 5-1 in their last 6 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Ducks are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Pacific.
- Ducks are 36-15 in their last 51 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Ducks are 37-17 in their last 54 Thursday games.
- Ducks are 51-24 in their last 75 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Ducks are 54-26 in their last 80 home games.
- Under is 4-0 in Sharks last 4 following a home loss of 3 or more goals.
- Over is 4-1 in Sharks last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Sharks last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 4-1 in Sharks last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-2 in Sharks last 9 following a loss of 3 or more goals.
- Under is 12-4-1 in Sharks last 17 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Sharks last 7 road games.
- Over is 5-2 in Sharks last 7 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Sharks last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 5-2 in Sharks last 7 vs. Pacific.
- Over is 7-3 in Sharks last 10 Thursday games.
- Over is 8-2 in Ducks last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 21-7-2 in Ducks last 30 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-2 in Ducks last 6 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Under is 20-7-1 in Ducks last 28 vs. Pacific.
- Under is 27-10-1 in Ducks last 38 games following a win.
- Over is 15-6-5 in Ducks last 26 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Over is 7-3 in Ducks last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 35-17-2 in Ducks last 54 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 5-1-3 in the last 9 meetings in Anaheim.
- Under is 42-19-9 in the last 70 meetings.
- Road team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
