Utah Hockey Club vs San Jose Sharks Prediction, 12/14/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Utah Hockey Club vs San Jose Sharks

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024

Location: SAP Center in San Jose, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Hockey Club (-210) Sharks (+172)

SAP Center is where the San Jose Sharks (10-16-5) will attempt to defeat the Utah Hockey Club (12-11-5) on Saturday. The moneyline on this contest has Utah at -210 and San Jose is opening at +172. The over/under is 6.

The Utah Hockey Club had a decent effort after finishing in a 4-4 tie against the Wild their last time out. Utah accumulated 4 penalty minutes in this game. The Hockey Club had a impressive offensive performance in this game. Moreover, they had 3 opportunities with more players on the ice and were able to score 2 goals. In the game, they scored on 4 out of the 25 shots they tried.

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With regard to their goal scoring prowess, the Utah Hockey Club have tallied 83 goals (22nd in hockey) on the campaign and have surrendered 83. For the current campaign, the have a total of 29 points and their points percentage sits at .518. Utah has accounted for 77 power play opportunities and they have tallied 15 goals out of those advantages, garnering them a rate of 19.48%. While playing at even strength, the Hockey Club have allowed 61 goals while earning 68 on the offensive side of the ice. Utah has tried 753 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 11.0%. The Hockey Club so far have had 801 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .896. Utah Hockey Club opponents have 101 power play opportunities (3rd in hockey) and have scored 22 goals in those chances.

The man protecting the net in this game is Karel Vejmelka. Vejmelka has taken the ice for 155 matchups during his NHL career. He has compiled a win-loss mark of 48-82-13 and he started in 144 games. The opposition has racked up 487 goals versus Vejmelka in his career and his goals against average is 3.75. Vejmelka has seen 4,839 shots taken against him and has recorded 4,352 total saves. His save percentage is .899 for his 7,790 mins played. Over the course of his time in hockey, Vejmelka has accrued 66 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .458.

The last time they were on the ice, San Jose faced off against the Hurricanes in a matchup where the Sharks ended up taking the loss by a final score of 3-2. The Sharks netted 2 goals out of the 23 shots on goal they pursued. They had 3 power play opportunities in this one but weren't able to put one in the back of the net.

San Jose has put up 850 shots (12th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 9.88%, while allowing their opponents 1,014 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 81.55% on the other teams 103 power play tries, and their save percentage is 89.4%. They have a tally of 100 opportunities on the power play and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 17.00%. The Sharks have scored 67 goals at even strength and 17 goals (17th in hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have permitted 107 goals to be scored by way of 88 goals at even strength and 19 goals while they were shorthanded. Over the course of the season, the San Jose Sharks have accounted for 84 goals, 25 points, in addition to a points percentage of .403.

Across the rink you are likely to see Alexandar Georgiev defending the goal. He has a tally of 7,108 stops out of 7,843 shots tried, which gives him a rate of .906. Georgiev has compiled a lifetime record of 144-89-22 and has been in goal for 272 games. He has made the start in 258 games and his ice time sits at 14,377 minutes. Georgiev's rate of quality starts is 51.6% and he has 133 quality starting assignments in his pro hockey career. Teams are averaging 3.07 goals per game and he has given up 735 goals overall.

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

Guy's Pick: Take San Jose (+172)

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