Montreal Canadiens vs San Jose Sharks Prediction, 2/28/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs San Jose Sharks

Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Location: SAP Center in San Jose, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

The Montreal Canadiens (25-30-4) are traveling to SAP Center on Tuesday where they will go up against the San Jose Sharks (18-30-12).

The Montreal Canadiens will need a bounce back game after taking a 5-2 defeat to the Senators in their previous contest . Montreal accumulated 7 penalty minutes in this matchup. In addition, they had 3 power play tries but weren't able to score. The Canadiens didn't have their best offensive outing in the defeat. For the game, they scored on 2 of the 32 shots they looked to score on.

Montreal Canadiens opponents have tallied 202 power play opportunities (8th in the league) and have a total of 53 goals in those chances. The Canadiens have seen 1,986 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .892. Montreal has taken 1,645 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.7%. While playing at even strength, the Canadiens have allowed the opponent to score 161 goals while getting 129 as an offensive unit. Montreal is sitting with 179 power play opportunities and they have added 30 goals out of those advantages, earning them a percentage of 16.76%. For the current campaign, they have tallied 54 points and their points percentage comes in at .458. When it comes to their goal scoring prowess, the Montreal Canadiens have accumulated 159 goals (28th in pro hockey) over the course of the season and have allowed 214.

The player in the crease for this game is Jake Allen. Over the course of his pro career, Allen has recorded 192 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .525. His save percentage currently sits at .909 in his 21,738 mins in the crease. Allen has had 10,694 shots taken against him and has accrued 9,726 saves. Opponents have notched 968 goals against Allen in his NHL career and his goals against average is 2.67. He has compiled an overall record of 181-144-37 and he started in 366 games. Allen has played in 386 contests over the course of his NHL career.

In their last outing, San Jose faced the Blackhawks in an outing where the Sharks got the tie by a tally of 3-3. The Sharks tallied 3 goals of the 48 shots on goal they pursued. They had 1 power play attempt in this one but weren't able to notch a goal.

San Jose has attempted 1,789 shots (23rd in the NHL) and has a shooting percentage of 9.95%, while allowing the opposition 1,875 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 83.62% on their oppositions 177 power play tries, and their save percentage is 88.4%. They have a tally of 161 power play opportunities and they have a power play rate of 18.63%. The Sharks have earned 148 goals at even strength and 30 goals (28th in the league) while on the power play. They have allowed 217 goals to be scored by way of 188 goals at even strength and 29 goals while they were shorthanded. For the year, the San Jose Sharks have tallied 178 goals, 48 points, as well as a points percentage of .400.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Kaapo Kahkonen protecting the goal. He has accrued 2,438 stops out of 2,704 shots taken against him, giving him a percentage of .902. Kahkonen is the owner of a career record of 41-35-10 and has played in 91 games. He has made the start in 87 games and has been on the ice for 5,179 minutes. Kahkonen's quality start rate sits at 51.7% and he has accumulated 45 quality starts in his pro hockey career. His opponents are averaging 3.08 goals per contest and he has given up 266 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Montreal

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