Sharks vs. Bruins Odds
| Sharks Odds | +150 |
| Bruins Odds | -180 |
| Over/Under | 6 |
| Time | 1 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
In a matinee game, the San Jose Sharks will take on the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.
The Sharks are coming into this game white hot, as they’ve gone 4-0 to start the season; much to the surprise of NHL fans. They’ve certainly dealt with some hardships over the past two seasons, but with a clean bill of health and improved goaltending the Sharks look like they could be a threat to upset the odds this season.
Boston made some significant changes in the offseason, most notably in goal as Tuukka Rask is still away from the team, mulling his future. The Bruins signed Linus Ullmark from Buffalo to form a battery with rookie Jeremy Swayman while Rask figures out his situation.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins have been one of the league's most consistent powerhouses for the better part of a dozen years now. But after a disappointing Round 2 loss to the New York Islanders exposed some issues with their depth, the Bruins overhauled the bottom of their roster by signing Erik Haula, Nick Foligno (out with an injury) and Tomas Nosek.
The Bruins are off to a 2-1 start, bookending a loss in Philadelphia with wins over Dallas and Buffalo. There's nothing fluky about Boston's record, either, as the B's have skated to a 57% expected goals rate (xGF%), which is one of the best marks in the early going.
Despite the added depth, the Bruins will go as far as the "Perfection Line" takes them. Brad Marchand already has five points, David Pastrnak has three, and while Patrice Bergeron only has one assist, the Bruins are +26 in shot attempts with him on the ice so far.
In addition to being a dynamic team at 5-on-5, the Bruins have also been quite strong on the power play over the last few seasons. Boston boasted a top-10 power play last season and even though they are only clipping at 16.7% to start this campaign, you'd expect this team to make its way up the charts with the man advantage.
Linus Ullmark is expected to get the start on Sunday after a pretty strong performance in his first start of the season in Buffalo. Although his W-L record is not pretty, the fact that Ullmark posted a .917 SV% on a terrible Sabres team in 2021 shows that he could turn into a pretty decent goaltender, especially behind a terrific Bruins defense.
San Jose Sharks
Nobody expected the San Jose Sharks to start the season 4-0.
Not only were the Sharks on the road for three of their four wins, but they also closed as the underdog three times, including when they closed at +200 in their last win over the Maple Leafs.
The Sharks seem like they are worth paying attention too, as their blend of proven veterans and up-and-comers perhaps give them a higher ceiling than people realized before the season started.
San Jose isn't just winning thanks to luck, either. The Sharks have skated to a respectable 53.03 xGF% and have created 36 high-danger chances at 5-on-5. Those numbers will play, so long as the Sharks get at least average goaltending — something that has not been the case for this team over the past three seasons.
But the goaltending has been stellar for San Jose so far. General manager Doug Wilson rolled the dice on Adin Hill, and it’s paying off so far. Hill has started off with a .922 SV% and a +2.2 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx). However, he has never been a No.1 goaltender, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can keep it up. That’s where James Reimer will pick up the slack. The veteran has proved he can be a serviceable backup in this league, so it won’t be all on Hill.
Bruins vs. Sharks Pick
The moneyline for this game seems about right. The Sharks are rolling right now, but the Bruins are the better team and are playing at home.
Instead of focusing on the moneyline, I think there is value on the Under at 6 goals. San Jose's offense is on fire, but the Bruins have been one of the best teams in the NHL at limiting scoring chances for quite some time. Add in some improved goaltending for San Jose, and I think this game sets up to be pretty tight.
Pick: Under 6 (-120 or better)
