Sunday NHL Odds, Pick, Prediction: San Jose Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: San Jose Sharks teammates Jacob Middleton, left, and James Reimer.
Sharks vs. Blue Jackets Odds
| Sharks Odds | +100 |
| Blue Jackets Odds | -120 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 |
| Time | 6 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The San Jose Sharks wrap up a five-game road trip by playing their third game in four nights Sunday when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The hosts are in a similar situation playing for the third time in four nights, while also competing on their second consecutive night. The betting line opened with the home side favored, but oddsmakers might have opened the wrong team as the favorite.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets are on an abysmal run, getting outplayed in eight consecutive games. Those poor showings have been even more evident over their recent sample, with the Blue Jackets failing to post a game score above 39.6% over their previous five contests. Cumulatively, Columbus has a 31.6% rating over that span, but have somehow managed to win a game.
What's been even more noteworthy is how effective the Blue Jackets' offense is operating despite its terrible production metrics. Columbus hasn't attempted more than six high-danger chances at 5-on-5 in any of their previous five games, getting out-chanced by a 62-22 margin. The Blue Jackets have managed to score six goals at 5-on-5 during that time, overachieving relative to expected output in two of those contests.
Back-to-backs haven't been kind to the Blue Jackets this season. Granted, this contest will be only their third such occurrence, but the first two have gone bad. Columbus has been outscored, 11-6, over the two contests, giving up 10 goals and 26 quality chances at 5-on-5 across both games.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are trending in the opposite direction over their recent stretch. San Jose has outplayed seven of their past nine opponents, a stretch of games in which they have only five wins. That puts the Sharks below expected values, highlighting them as progression candidates over their coming stretch.
San Jose's resurgence has been predicated on offense. The Sharks have attempted 10 or more high-danger chances at 5-on-5 in six of their previous nine contests. Their relative metrics are also solid, as they've out-chanced their opponents in quality chances in seven of nine contests.
It helps that goaltender James Reimer is off to the best start of his career, albeit unsustainable. Reimer is above career norms in goals-against average and save percentage, posting above-average save percentages across the advanced categories. It's just a matter of time before Reimer falters, but we're not anticipating that to happen against the Jackets' subpar offense.
Sharks vs. Blue Jackets Pick
Even when regression starts to bite Reimer, the Sharks' offense will be there to pick him up. Columbus has shown an inability to limit scoring on the second night of a back-to-back, which suits San Jose as its output should start to catch up with its production metrics.
This line should shift in the Sharks' favor as we approach puck drop. Any number better than a Pick'em is worth taking.
Pick: San Jose ML (+100)
How would you rate this article?
Follow Us On Social
