Winnipeg Jets vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions October 18th 2024

Winnipeg Jets vs San Jose Sharks October 18th 2024

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Sharks versus the Jets? The puck drops at 8:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NBCS. The game will be played at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The over/under for this game is set at 5.5 goals, and the Jets are the -1.5 goal favorites against the Sharks in a Western conference matchup.

San Jose vs. Winnipeg Key Information

The Sharks fell to 0-2-2 after a 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks. San Jose’s defense struggled early, allowing a goal just 4:20 into the first period. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, and the teams combined for exactly that amount, resulting in a push.

San Jose was the underdog on the puck line, and failed to cover. They didn’t score until the 2nd period, when they were already down 3-0.

San Jose’s offense managed just two goals in their 4-2 loss to Chicago. Tyler Toffoli scored his third goal of the season, while Fabian Zetterlund added his second. Toffoli found the net on his only shot on goal, and Zetterlund took three shots in the game.

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The Sharks had 22 shots on goal and were held scoreless in the first period. They got on the board with 1:43 left in the second period and added another goal at the 17:08 mark of the third. William Eklund and Mikael Granlund each picked up assists on both goals, bringing their season totals to two and three assists, respectively.

The Sharks’ defense struggled early, giving up the first goal at 4:20 into the first period and another at 19:11. Both of those were followed by Blackhawks goals at 0:43 and 2:19 in the 2nd and 3rd periods, respectively. San Jose also had trouble on the penalty kill, allowing two power-play goals. Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves with a save percentage of 85.2%.

With a 2-1 overtime win against the Wild, the Jets improved to 3-0-0 this season. Winnipeg was favored on the puck line, but failed to cover. The total was set at 5.5 goals, and the teams combined for just 3.

After the Wild scored early in the first period, the Jets tied it up with only 2 seconds left in the period. Kyle Connor secured the win with a goal 51 seconds into overtime.

Winnipeg took 35 shots on goal but only managed to score twice in their 2-1 overtime win against the Wild. The Jets’ first goal came from Mark Scheifele, his fourth of the season, with just two seconds left in the first period. Kyle Connor netted his second goal of the year, securing the win 51 seconds into overtime on a power play.

Winnipeg had 18 giveaways and scored on only two of their 35 shots. Scheifele, who scored earlier, also picked up his second assist of the season on Connor’s overtime goal. Josh Morrissey added his fourth assist of the year.

Defensively, the Jets gave up the first goal just 4:06 into the game, but they shut out the Wild for the rest of the contest. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves with a 96.3% save percentage, and the Jets’ defense added 7 takeaways and 16 hits.

When it comes to a straight moneyline bet, look no further than the Jets. Nevertheless, given the payout of -358, you could also think about incorporating this bet into a parlay.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Sharks to cover. Even if the Jets secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Sharks should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 5.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck Faces Sharks in 500th Career Start

The Winnipeg Jets are enjoying a historic start to the 2024-25 NHL season, and a major factor in their success is veteran goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. As the Jets prepare to host the San Jose Sharks on Friday night, Hellebuyck will reach a significant milestone: his 500th career NHL start.

Hellebuyck, 31, is currently leading the league with an impressive .976 save percentage, having stopped 81 of the 83 shots he’s faced so far this season. His stellar play has been instrumental in Winnipeg’s 3-0-0 start — the best opening record in franchise history. To celebrate his accomplishment, the Jets will host “Hellebuyck Night” at Canada Life Centre, where the first 5,000 fans will receive a commemorative Hellebuyck pennant.

A Night of Recognition for Hellebuyck

The evening’s festivities will honor Hellebuyck’s contributions to the team, and fans will have the chance to see some of the hardware he has won. Hellebuyck will showcase the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top goaltender, which he won for the second time last season. He will also display the William M. Jennings Trophy, which he shared with backup goalie David Rittich for allowing the fewest goals in the 2023-24 season.

Reflecting on the milestone, Hellebuyck told the Winnipeg Sun that he’s excited for the special night and the opportunity to celebrate with fans. “I was thinking about it (Wednesday night) when I heard that the trophies are going to be in town,” Hellebuyck said. “I wanted to see them. I was thinking that many people probably don’t get a chance to touch it.”

Hellebuyck, a fifth-round pick (130th overall) in the 2012 draft, has become one of the most accomplished goaltenders in NHL history. He is just the 23rd goalie to win the Vezina Trophy multiple times, having first earned the award in 2020. Though he accepted that first honor virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was able to receive the 2024 Vezina in person at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas last June.

Stellar Start to the Season

Hellebuyck’s performance in the 2024-25 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. He began the season with a 30-save shutout against the Edmonton Oilers, leading the Jets to a dominant 6-0 win. He followed that with back-to-back 2-1 overtime victories over the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild.

In the win over Minnesota, Kyle Connor scored 51 seconds into overtime, with Hellebuyck making 26 saves. He has allowed just two goals over 180 minutes and 54 seconds of ice time through his first three starts.

“We’re growing accustomed to him being so elite,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said. “Sometimes it’s hard to describe his level of play, but at the same time, we’re pretty lucky that we get to witness his greatness every day in practice and also what he’s able to do in games.”

Sharks Look to Rebound

While the Jets are off to a perfect start, the San Jose Sharks are still searching for their first win of the season. The Sharks (0-3-1) are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. In that game, San Jose fell behind 3-0 in the first 21 minutes before rallying late. Tyler Toffoli scored in the second period, and Fabian Zetterlund added another goal in the third, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

“I don’t think the whole night was the way we can play,” said Sharks forward Mikael Granlund, who had two assists. “We can play way better. Obviously, the start was really slow for us. It was a little bit better as the game went on, but at the same time, that’s not enough.”

San Jose head coach Ryan Warsofsky knows his team will need to play better if they hope to secure their first victory of the season. “We’ve got to do everything better tomorrow, that’s for sure,” Warsofsky said following Thursday’s loss.

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The Sharks have struggled to generate offense this season, despite Toffoli leading the team with three goals through the first four games. San Jose will face a tough test against Hellebuyck, who is in top form and eager to make his 500th start a memorable one.

Jets Look to Continue Dominance

Winnipeg enters Friday’s game looking to continue their historic start and extend their unbeaten streak. With Hellebuyck’s leadership in goal and key contributions from players like Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, the Jets are poised to capitalize on their momentum.

For the Sharks, Friday’s game represents an opportunity to get back on track. However, overcoming Hellebuyck and a confident Jets team in front of their home crowd will be a tall order for a San Jose squad still searching for consistency.