San Jose Sharks vs Minnesota Wild Picks and Predictions November 7th 2024

San Jose Sharks vs Minnesota Wild November 7th 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Wild and Sharks. The game is starting at 10:30 ET on NBCS, and it’s hosted by the Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. Get ready to place your bets! The Wild are the -1.5 goal favorite in this Western conference matchup against Sharks. The over/under for the game is set at 6 goals.

Minnesota vs. San Jose Key Information

With a 2-1 overtime win against the Maple Leafs, the Wild improved to 8-2-2 this season. Minnesota was favored on the puck line, but didn’t cover. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined 3 goals fell short of that mark.

Ryan Hartman opened the scoring for the Wild at 9:41 in the first period, but the Maple Leafs tied it up with just 52 seconds left in the period. Matt Boldy secured the win for Minnesota with a goal at 2:14 in overtime.

Ryan Hartman netted his third goal of the season, scoring for the Wild at 9:41 in the first period. Matt Boldy followed up with his sixth goal, which came 2:14 into overtime to secure the 2-1 win. Jared Spurgeon picked up assists on both goals, bringing his season total to three.

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The Wild took 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the second and third periods. They recorded 15 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play opportunities.

Defensively, the Wild gave up a late goal in the first period, but they didn’t allow another, leading to a 2-1 overtime win. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves with a 96.4% save percentage. The Wild’s defense also contributed 22 hits and 7 takeaways.

With a 3-2 loss to the Canucks, the Sharks fell to 4-8-2 this season. San Jose led twice, but Vancouver’s Pius Suter scored the game-winner with just 26 seconds left in regulation.

The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for only 5. As underdogs on the puck line, the Sharks failed to cover. Nico Sturm opened the scoring for San Jose at 2:37 in the second period.

San Jose’s offense was held to just two goals in their 3-2 loss to Vancouver. Nico Sturm netted his second goal of the season, while Mikael Granlund scored for the sixth time this year. Granlund took three shots on goal, and Sturm scored on his only shot.

The Sharks fired 23 shots on goal and recorded 16 giveaways. They were shut out in the first period before Sturm opened the scoring at 17:23 in the second. Granlund’s goal came with 1:17 left in the game, tying the score at 2-2.

Defensively, the Sharks will be looking to bounce back after giving up a late goal with just 26 seconds left in the 3rd period, which proved to be the game-winner for the Canucks. Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves with a save percentage of 89.3%. San Jose’s defense also finished with 6 takeaways and 21 hits.

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Sharks to take down the Wild at home. With the moneyline currently at +220, I’m placing my bet on the Sharks straight-up.

Our projections have the Sharks pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Sharks, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Hoping to Keep Hot Streak Alive, Sharks Host the Wild

The San Jose Sharks look to extend their recent run of success when they welcome the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. Riding a 4-1-0 stretch, the Sharks have rebounded impressively from a rough start, including a perfect penalty-kill streak over the past five games. The Wild, meanwhile, aim to bounce back from a surprising defeat as they kick off a three-game road trip.

Wild Seek Redemption After Tough Loss

Minnesota’s three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end on Tuesday when the Los Angeles Kings erupted for five unanswered goals in the third period, handing the Wild their largest loss of the season. Up 1-0 until late in the second period, the Wild couldn’t contain the Kings’ offense and ultimately suffered their second regulation defeat in 12 games (8-2-2).

Coach John Hynes acknowledged the need for his team to refocus on fundamentals, especially as they head on the road.

“We talk a lot about details and managing the game,” Hynes said. “Sometimes when you win, you don’t get exposed in those things. It was a good reminder of the importance of staying with your game.”

The Wild have struggled on special teams, with their penalty kill ranked near the bottom of the league. They’ve also gone cold on the power play, failing to score on their last 14 attempts. Revitalizing their special teams will be key as they face a red-hot Sharks penalty kill that has shut down all 16 power-play opportunities it’s faced over the last five games.

Sharks Lean on Vanecek and Defense

San Jose’s defense, bolstered by excellent goaltending, has been a major factor in the team’s recent success. In Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, goaltender Vitek Vanecek made a stellar 49 saves and even added an assist on Alex Wennberg’s overtime winner.

“(Vanecek) made so many good saves and key saves that kept us in the game,” Wennberg said. “We wouldn’t win this game without him. It’s great to have that goaltending that you really can rely on.”

Vanecek’s outstanding performance may earn him another start, but with a reliable tandem in Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood, the Sharks have flexibility in net. Minnesota, playing back-to-back games, will likely split goaltending duties between Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury, with Fleury likely to start against San Jose to give Gustavsson a reset after a tough outing against the Kings.

Key Players to Watch

For Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov remains the focal point. The Wild’s leading scorer with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists), Kaprizov returned to Tuesday’s game after briefly exiting following a puck to the face. Meanwhile, forward Frederick Gaudreau is enjoying a four-game point streak with two goals and four assists.

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The Sharks are excited to have 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini back in the lineup after a lengthy recovery from a hip injury sustained in the season opener. Celebrini logged 17:06 of ice time and recorded three shots in his return on Tuesday. Mikael Granlund continues to lead the Sharks with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) and will look to add to his total against the Wild.

Recent Head-to-Head and Outlook

Minnesota has dominated this matchup in recent years, going 9-2-1 in their last 12 games against San Jose. However, the Sharks’ recent defensive improvements and Vanecek’s outstanding form could pose a challenge to the Wild’s plans to rebound.

With San Jose’s rejuvenated penalty kill facing Minnesota’s struggling power play, special teams may play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of Thursday’s clash. Both teams come in motivated, with the Sharks hoping to keep their hot streak alive and the Wild eager to get back on track.