Ducks vs. Sharks NHL Odds, Picks, Predictions: Value Is On the Underdog (March 26)

Ducks vs. Sharks Odds

We have a Pacific Division tilt as the sixth-place Anaheim Ducks travel to San Jose to take on the seventh-place Sharks on Saturday night. This is the third meeting between these teams of the season, with the Ducks winning each of the first two matchups.

Will the Ducks continue their dominance over the Sharks this season? Or can the Sharks get revenge on home ice?

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks enter this contest amidst an eight-game losing streak. However, I believe there's optimism they can pull off the upset in San Jose to snap their streak.

My primary reason for believing this is the fact that Anaheim's coaching staff hinted at Lukas Dostal getting the start in this matchup, giving typical starting goaltender John Gibson a much-needed break as he has been on the wrong end of seven of those eight losses.

Anaheim does not want to rush the development of Dostal as he is the potential goaltender of the future for them, but he has looked incredibly sharp in all three appearances he has made in the NHL this season. Over those three starts, Dostal boasts an impressive 0.929 save percentage.

The Ducks also hold an advantage over the Sharks analytically this season as they rank higher in both five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF) and five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).

I can see the Ducks rallying around their young goaltender and breaking the losing streak against a division rival.

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks enter this contest following Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers — the Sharks' fourth over their last six games as they begin to slide with the season winding down.

Analytically, the Sharks are even worse than their record indicates as they rank just 25th in the league in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF) and 26th in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). James Reimer is the projected starting goaltender for San Jose and is due for some regression soon.

Despite his great performance over the past month, Reimer remains ranked just 22nd among starting goaltenders in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx).

The public will be all over the Sharks at such a short price at home against a team on an eight-game losing streak, which makes me like the Ducks to win even more.

Ducks vs. Sharks Pick

If Dostal does indeed get the start like the Ducks' coaching staff hinted at on Friday, then the wrong team is favored in this matchup as Anaheim will have the goaltending and analytic advantage over San Jose.

The Sharks have not been able to figure out the Ducks as San Jose is 0-2 against Anaheim this season.

This is a matchup that has favored the Ducks not only this season, but over the last few as well as they have won five straight games against the Sharks.

Pick: Ducks ML (+130) | Play to +115