Hurricanes vs. Sharks Odds
| Hurricanes Odds | -155 |
| Sharks Odds | +130 |
| Over/Under | 6 |
| Time | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
One of the NHL's top teams this season, the Carolina Hurricanes will kick off the second week of a six-game western road trip when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.
So far, the Canes have shown Pacific Division fans why they're a force to be reckoned with. They're riding a four-game winning streak which has included road wins against Vegas, Anaheim and Los Angeles.
At 8-8-1, the Sharks have surprised some people after a terrible 2020-21 season. But after successfully treading water while a COVID-19 outbreak tore through the roster, San Jose now has just one win in its last five games.
Returning home after a five-game road trip, the Sharks were shut out 4-0 by the Washington Capitals at SAP Center on Saturday.
Digging into the details, this looks like a straightforward matchup. Here's why you should back the road team on Monday night.
Hurricanes Defense Is Tops In The League
The stingy Hurricanes sit first in the NHL defensively, giving up an average of just two goals per game. They're fourth on offense as well, scoring 3.5 goals a game.
The underlying numbers show that those stats are legitimate. Carolina sits second in the NHL in Corsi (54.23%), 11th in expected goals (51.89%) and 11th in high-danger chances (52.23%). Their special teams are top 10, and goaltender Frederik Andersen has been lights out with a .937 save percentage, 1.89 goals-against average and 5.83 goals saved above average at 5-on-5.
And while the Canes can lock things down defensively, they can also put the puck in the net. Top-liners Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho are producing at better than a point a game, and Tony DeAngelo has been a solid addition on the right side of the blue line after the departure of free agent Dougie Hamilton.
After the Hurricanes made big changes to their goaltending and defense during the offseason, it wasn't immediately clear whether the club would be able to build on the potential it has shown over the past couple of seasons.
So far, the revamped group has risen to the challenge. Many of the Hurricanes' games have been one-goal affairs. But more often than not, they're finding ways to win.
Regression Could Lurk For Sharks
As successful as the Sharks have been through the early part of the season, their underlying numbers are sending up warning signals — especially considering they'll be up against a team that's as structurally solid as Carolina.
At 5-on-5, San Jose ranks 29th in the league in both Corsi (45.79%) and expected goals (45.54%). Interestingly, they fare better when it comes to high-danger scoring opportunities, sitting in the middle of the pack at 50.18%.
The Sharks' biggest strength this season has been goaltender James Reimer — the 33-year-old who went from the Hurricanes' backup spot for the last two seasons to sharing the load with Adin Hill in San Jose. Reimer's personal numbers have been terrific in the early going — a 1.98 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and 3.51 goals save above average at 5-on-5. He's confirmed to get the start on Monday against his old squad.
San Jose's penalty killing also ranks highly — fifth in the league. But after six perfect penalty-killing games earlier this month, the Sharks have given up a goal while shorthanded in three of their last four games.
Offensively, the Sharks have struggled to find their groove this season. Rookie Jonathan Dahlen has been a nice surprise, tied with Tomas Hertl with a team-leading seven goals. But Dahlen left Saturday's game against Washington what appeared to be a shoulder injury. He isn't expected to suit up on Monday.
Sharks vs. Hurricanes Pick
There's nothing to suggest that San Jose will be able to throw Carolina off its game on Monday night — except the inherently random nature of hockey, of course. The statistics align in the Hurricanes' favor, and they've methodically dismantled arguably tougher competition so far on their swing through the Pacific Division.
Most of their games have been low scoring, but in their last game, the Hurricanes showed they can generate timely offense when they need it. Against Los Angeles on Saturday, they never trailed as they matched the Kings goal-for-goal on their way to an uncharacteristic 5-4 victory.
At -155, the oddsmakers are giving the Hurricanes about a 60% chance of victory on Monday. It doesn't make for an especially tantalizing payout, but the Hurricanes tend to do only what's required to get their wins — nothing more.
Don't get tempted by the puck line. In this case, a simple moneyline bet on the road favorite looks like the way to go.
Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-155) | Play down to -180
