ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the teams in the NHL more than others, and has led to the postponement of a lot of games and the reshuffling of the schedule.
Some clubs have had to roll with the punches more than others, and we’re going to present one of them to you as a value play at HRWager on Friday.
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks Picks
Sharks vs. Ducks Betting Trends
When: 10:08 PM ET
Money Line: Ducks -115, Sharks -105
Total: Under 5.5 -125, Over 5.5 +105
John Gibson is one of the better American-born goaltenders; in fact, he represented team USA at the IIHF World Championships.
He’s been an NHL All-Star twice and a co-winner of the Jennings Trophy in 2016. But strangely, in each succeeding season after he was officially a rookie, his goals-against average has gone up. And his save percentage was a so-so .904 last season.
This year he’s been hot-and-cold, pitching a couple of shutouts but also letting the floodgates open a few times, including last Saturday against St. Louis, when he was yanked after giving up three goals in the first 126 seconds of the game. He then allowed four goals on 23 shots the next day against the Blues.
When a team can score a little, they can overcome some of this inconsistency. But that hasn’t been the case with Anaheim; only twice have they scored more than two goals, and in five of their eleven games they have been held to a single tally.
There is literally no power play here; the Ducks have converted just twice in 24 chances. That’s 8.33%. Minnesota, which has dug a hole all the way to China, is the only club that’s worse.
They have spent a lot of time in their own end, and almost two-thirds of the high-danger scoring chances in their games have been for the other side.
With the way this team is allowing easy chances, they’re not an easy side to back.
But if you’re looking for another squad that isn’t operating on all cylinders, you’re talking about the San Jose Sharks, who have taken part in only eight games and have a goal differential of minus-11 and a team save percentage of .879.
This has been a truly bizarre journey thus far. Because of COVID restrictions in their home area of Santa Clara County, the Sharks had to literally evacuate and go to training camp outside of Phoenix on December 30.
Only now have they been able to come back and practice in their home facility. But every game they’ve played has been on the road. And a pair of games scheduled with Vegas had to be postponed.
We’ll Teach You How to Bet on NHL Player Props
So now it will have been a week since they’ve played. And they won’t be able to play in their own arena (the SAP Center) for another week.
Coach Bob Boughner likes the way his team reacted in the home practice, but the fact is, the schedule is playing some havoc, and the Sharks have converted on just one of their last 23 power play opportunities.
Both of these teams have been killing penalties at a high rate (around 83%, which puts them both among the leaders), without much to show for the situations where they have the man advantage.
The “under” (What Is an Over/Under Bet?) might be a consideration, but we’re going to move with San Jose here. While it is true that they were outshot by a ghastly 80-51 margin in dropping a pair to Colorado (allowing ten goals in the process), we admire the fact that they have at least won a few games on the road, and you’d have to imagine it’s been therapeutic that they’ve been able to spend some time at home.
They also seem much more capable of scoring outbursts than a Ducks club that has shown no “quack.”
It’s the dog for us.
The Play: SAN JOSE -105
