New Jersey Devils vs San Jose Sharks Prediction, 1/4/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New Jersey Devils vs San Jose Sharks

Date: Saturday, January 4, 2025

Location: SAP Center in San Jose, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Devils (-150) Sharks (+125)

SAP Center is where the San Jose Sharks (12-23-6) will attempt to beat the New Jersey Devils (24-14-3) on Saturday. The odds on this game have the Devils at -150 while the Sharks are sitting at +125. The betting total comes in at 6.

The New Jersey Devils will need a bounce back game after taking a 3-0 loss against the Kings in their previous game. The Devils could have played much better offensively in this defeat. For the game, they took the loss without having netted any of the 33 shots they put on goal. Furthermore, they had 6 chances with extra men on the ice but didn't get a goal. New Jersey compiled 6 penalty mins in this matchup.

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At even strength, the Devils let the opposition score 85 goals while getting 98 on the offensive side of the ice. New Jersey Devils opponents have 115 power play tries (11th in the league) and have racked up 19 goals in those attempts. Regarding scoring goals, the New Jersey Devils have racked up 132 goals (6th in the NHL) so far this season and have given up 104. New Jersey has tried 1,237 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.7%. For the current campaign, they have 51 points and their points percentage comes in at .622. The Devils thus far have had 1,044 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .900. New Jersey steps onto the ice with 119 power play opportunities and they have scored 34 goals out of those chances, garnering them a percentage of 28.57%.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Jacob Markstrom. Markstrom has been in net for 513 matchups over the course of his hockey career. He has compiled a mark of 234-203-59 and he has started in 496 games. Opponents have scored 1,325 goals against Markstrom in his professional career and his goals against average per contest is 2.85. Markstrom has seen 14,577 shot attempts against him and he has 13,252 saves. His save percentage sits at .909 for his 27,924 mins played. During his career on the ice, Markstrom has accounted for 264 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .532.

Their last time out, San Jose faced the Lightning in a game where the Sharks earned a victory by a tally of 2-1. The Sharks recorded 2 goals out of the 25 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 2 opportunities on the power play in this game but weren't able to notch a goal.

The Sharks have accumulated 85 goals at even strength and 22 goals (20th in the NHL) while on the power play. San Jose has taken 1,117 shots (15th in the league) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 9.58%, while allowing the opposition 1,332 shots. For the season, the San Jose Sharks are sitting with 107 goals, 30 points, in addition to a points percentage of .366. They have allowed 143 goals to be scored by way of 115 goals at even strength and 28 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 124 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 17.74%. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 79.10% on their opponents 134 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.3%.

Across the rink you are likely to see Alexandar Georgiev in the crease. He has recorded 7,241 stops out of 7,996 shots taken against him, giving him a rate of .906. Georgiev has compiled a career mark of 145-93-22 and has played in 277 games. He got the starting nod in 263 games and has accumulated 14,389 minutes. Georgiev's quality start percentage comes in at 50.6% and he has qualified for 133 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. His opponents are averaging 3.15 goals/game and he has yielded 755 goals overall.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New Jersey (-150)

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