San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks Prediction, 12/23/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks

Date: Saturday, December 23, 2023

Location: Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC

TV: Sportsnet

Odds/Point Spread: Sharks (+260) Canucks (-335)

The San Jose Sharks (9-21-3) are hitting the road to Rogers Arena on Saturday where they will play the Vancouver Canucks (22-9-3). The odds on this game have San Jose at +260 while Vancouver is sitting at -335. The over/under comes in at 7.

The San Jose Sharks were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 5-2 loss to the Coyotes their last time out. San Jose tallied 6 penalty minutes in this matchup. The Sharks didn't have their best offensive outing in the loss. Furthermore, they had 1 power play attempt but weren't able to convert it into a goal. For the game, they were able to notch a goal on 2 out of the 31 shots they tried.

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At even strength, the Sharks have allowed 99 goals while having 51 as an offensive unit. San Jose Sharks opponents have tallied 114 power play tries (5th in hockey) and have notched 31 goals in those chances. In reference to their scoring, the San Jose Sharks have tallied 69 goals (32nd in the NHL) over the course of the season and have given up 130. San Jose has attempted 849 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 8.1%. For the season, they have earned 21 points and their points percentage is .318. The Sharks so far have had 1,186 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .890. San Jose has 86 power play chances and they have added 18 goals during those advantages, garnering them a rate of 20.93%.

The man in goal for this game is Mackenzie Blackwood. In his professional hockey career, Blackwood has recorded 85 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .521. He has a save percentage of .904 during his 9,746 minutes in the crease. Blackwood has seen 5,203 shots against him and has accrued 4,704 total saves. Opponents have notched 499 goals against Blackwood in his professional career and his goals against rate is 3.07. He has compiled a win-loss mark of 69-70-20 and he has gotten the start in 163 games. Blackwood has been in net for 174 contests throughout his hockey career.

The last time they were on the ice, Vancouver went up against the Stars in a game where the Canucks were on the wrong end of the score by a mark of 4-3. The Canucks tallied 3 goals of the 20 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 power play opportunities in this contest but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal.

Over the course of the season, the Vancouver Canucks have earned 128 goals, 47 points, in addition to a points percentage of .691. They have permitted 84 goals to be scored by of a combination of 60 goals at even strength and 24 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Canucks have accumulated 99 goals at even strength and 29 goals (6th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have earned 120 power play opportunities and they have a power play rate of 24.17%. Vancouver has taken 953 shots (21st in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 13.43%, while allowing their opponents 1,025 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 77.14% on the other teams 105 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 91.8%.

For the opposition you are expected to see Thatcher Demko protecting the net. Demko has a career record of 97-74-16 and has been in net for 192 games. Demko's rate of quality starts is 55.9% and he has 104 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. He has accrued 5,457 saves out of the 5,987 shots tried, which gives him a save % of .911. His opponents are averaging 2.83 goals/game and he has relinquished 530 goals in total. He has started in 186 games and has played for a total of 11,217 minutes.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Vancouver (-335)

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