Tampa Bay Lightning vs San Jose Sharks Prediction, 1/2/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs San Jose Sharks

Date: Thursday, January 2, 2025

Location: SAP Center in San Jose, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Lightning (-196) Sharks (+162)

The San Jose Sharks (11-22-6) welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning (20-12-2) at SAP Center on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Lightning at -196 while the Sharks are priced at +162. The total is 6.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look for better times on the ice after their 5-2 loss to the Canadiens in their previous game. Tampa Bay garnered 4 mins in the box in this game. They also had 3 power play tries but weren't able to score. The Lightning had an offensive game that was below their expectations in this loss. In the game, they scored on 2 of the 23 shots they tried.

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Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have 97 power play tries (27th in professional hockey) and have a total of 18 goals in those chances. The Lightning thus far have had 979 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .902. Tampa Bay has taken 951 shots and holds a shot percentage of 14.1%. When at even strength, the Lightning let the opposition score 78 goals while notching 106 of their own. Tampa Bay comes into the game with 104 power play chances and they have notched 28 goals out of those advantages, earning them a rate of 26.92%. For the current campaign, they have recorded 42 points and their points percentage is .618. In regard to their scoring capabilities, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accounted for 134 goals (2nd in the NHL) on the year and have conceded 96.

The player between the pipes for this game is Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy has been in goal for 504 games over the course of his pro hockey career. He has accumulated a record of 309-153-31 and he has gotten the start in 494 games. The opposition has been able to score 1,262 goals against Vasilevskiy in his NHL career and his goals against average per contest is 2.69. Vasilevskiy has had 15,112 shots taken against him and has amassed 13,850 saves. He has a save percentage of .916 in his 28,114 mins in the crease. Over the course of his time in hockey, Vasilevskiy has compiled 281 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .569.

In their last game, San Jose went up against the Flames in a game where the Sharks took a loss by a final score of 3-1. They had 2 power play chances in this outing and netted 1 out of those opportunities. The Sharks tallied 1 goal out of the 22 shots on goal they were seeking.

The Sharks have racked up 83 goals at even strength and 22 goals (17th in the NHL) while having a power play advantage. San Jose has taken 1,070 shots (11th in pro hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 9.81%, while allowing the other team 1,273 shots. This season, the San Jose Sharks have accumulated 105 goals, 28 points, as well as a points percentage of .359. They have permitted 138 goals to be scored by of a combination of 111 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have a tally of 121 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play rate of 18.18%. They have a penalty kill percentage of 79.07% on the other teams 129 power play chances, and their save percentage comes in at 89.2%.

Across the ice you are expected to see Alexandar Georgiev protecting the net. He has a tally of 7,211 stops out of the 7,962 shots taken, which gives him a save % of .906. Georgiev has accumulated a lifetime record of 145-92-22 and has participated in 276 games. He has made the start in 262 games and has accumulated 14,387 mins. Georgiev's quality start rate comes out to 50.8% and he has 133 quality starts in his pro career. His opponents are averaging 3.13 goals per contest and he has yielded 751 goals altogether.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-196)

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