Sharks vs Golden Knights Expert Prediction NHL 03/30

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NHL Game Preview: Vegas Golden Knights vs San Jose Sharks

The Vegas Golden Knights will face off against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 10:30 p.m. EDT in San Jose, California. The Golden Knights are first in the Pacific Division, boasting a record of 46-21-6, while the Sharks are in eighth place with a 19-39-15 record. Vegas will look to bounce back from a 7-4 loss against the Edmonton Oilers where Jonathan Marchessault scored two goals. With the playoffs looming, the Golden Knights will want to secure a win against the Sharks to maintain their position at the top of the division. The San Jose Sharks have struggled this season, winning only 19 games and remaining at the bottom of their division. They have lost 10 of their last 12 games and will be without several key players due to injuries. NHL experts predict that Vegas will secure a win against San Jose, with computer-generated NHL picks and EM predictions all favoring the Golden Knights. Experts also suggest that this game may be a good potential parlay, with Vegas being the favorite for many NHL picks and parlays. However, the Sharks should not be underestimated, and they will likely try to play spoiler to the Golden Knights' playoff hopes. NHL picks with spread experts suggest that the game may be closer than what the records suggest. In the last meeting between the two teams, Vegas won 4-2, with Marchessault leading the way with two goals. Jack Eichel will also be a player to watch for the Golden Knights, with 27 goals and 31 assists this season. All in all, the Vegas Golden Knights will be looking to maintain their position at the top of the Pacific Division against the San Jose Sharks. NHL predictions today suggest that it will be a game to watch, with the potential for an upset from the Sharks.

Golden Knights: Offensive Analysis

The Vegas Golden Knights have been on a roll lately, winning eight of their last 10 games and averaging 4.2 goals per game during that stretch. This offensive firepower will be crucial as they take on the San Jose Sharks, who have struggled this season with a 19-39-15 record. One player to keep an eye on for the Golden Knights is Jonathan Marchessault, who has been on a hot streak with seven goals and five assists in the past 10 games. His two-goal performance against the Edmonton Oilers in their last game shows he's still in top form and ready to lead his team's attack against the Sharks. The Sharks have struggled to find consistency on offense, averaging only 2.3 goals per game in their last 10 outings. This could be a result of their penalty troubles, as they often find themselves serving more penalty minutes than their opponents. If the Golden Knights can take advantage of this and keep their discipline, they could expose the Sharks' weakness and rack up the goals. Overall, the Golden Knights are favored by NHL picks experts and computers to win this game, with the San Jose Sharks being considered a long shot. Look for the Golden Knights to continue their strong offensive performance and put pressure on the Sharks from the opening whistle. There may be potential for nhl experts picks today to lean towards Vegas for both nhl picks odds and nhl picks with spread. Bettors could consider a Golden Knights parlay as one of the best nhl bets today.

Golden Knights: Defensive Analysis

The Vegas Golden Knights have one of the strongest defenses in the NHL, allowing only 2.81 goals per game and holding a +36 scoring differential. The team is particularly strong in its penalty killing, preventing the opposition from scoring on 82.1% of its power play opportunities this season. In addition, the Golden Knights have one of the league's best goaltending tandems in Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury, who have combined for a .917 save percentage and 5 shutouts this season. However, Lehner is out for the season due to a hip injury, so the team will have to rely on Fleury and backup Adin Hill to carry the load in net. Defensively, Vegas is led by a pair of veteran defensemen in Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, who have combined for 65 points and a +24 rating this season. They are supported by a deep group of defenders, such as Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud, who have proven more than capable when called upon. Against the San Jose Sharks, the Golden Knights will need to continue their strong defensive play in order to secure a victory. The Sharks have struggled offensively this season, averaging only 2.41 goals per game, and rank near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. Vegas will also need to stay disciplined, as the Sharks have been successful in drawing penalties and capitalizing on their power play opportunities. The Golden Knights will need to limit San Jose's chances with the man advantage and stay out of the penalty box themselves. Overall, the Golden Knights' defense should give them a significant advantage against the struggling Sharks. If they can continue their strong play and avoid penalties, they should be able to secure a win and maintain their position atop the Pacific Division standings.

Sharks: Offense Analysis

The San Jose Sharks face the Vegas Golden Knights in what could be another tough game for the struggling Sharks. Despite the return of Logan Couture to the offense, the Sharks have struggled to find the back of the net with only 19 wins this season. Their offensive line-up lacks the depth and skill to keep up with the Golden Knights, who have been on fire offensively. The Sharks have been averaging only 2.3 goals in their last 10 games, compared to the Golden Knights' 4.2 goals per game. The Sharks have been unable to generate offense on the power play and have conceded more penalties than their opponents, which has cost them many games this season. Although Erik Karlsson has been a bright spot for the Sharks with 22 goals and 68 assists, the rest of the offense has been lackluster. Kevin Labanc has only three goals in the last 10 games, while the team has struggled to create chances and take advantage of their opponents' mistakes. When it comes to NHL picks and predictions, the Sharks are not the team experts and computer predictions are selecting. The Golden Knights are the clear favorites to win this game and the Sharks will need to step up their offensive game if they want to stand a chance. With injuries to key players such as Markus Nutivaara and Evgeny Svechnikov, it will be an uphill battle for the Sharks to compete with the Golden Knights. In conclusion, the Sharks' offense analysis shows that they have not been up to the mark this season and will struggle against a top-notch offensive team like the Golden Knights. NHL picks and parlays experts will likely advise betting on the Golden Knights to win, and it's a safe bet with a clear scoring differential advantage. Unless the Sharks find a spark in their offense, they are unlikely to win this game or many more games in their remaining schedule.

Sharks: Defensive Analysis

The Sharks have struggled defensively this season, allowing an average of 3.5 goals per game. However, they have shown some improvement in their last 10 games, giving up only 4.2 goals per game compared to their season average. They will need to continue this trend if they hope to compete against the Golden Knights, who have been averaging 4.2 goals per game in their last 10 games. One of the major issues for the Sharks has been their penalty kill, which ranks near the bottom of the league. They have given up 39 power-play goals this season, which is the second-most in the NHL. This will be a concern against the Golden Knights, who have a potent power-play unit, scoring on 22% of their opportunities this season. However, the Sharks do have some bright spots on defense, particularly in their top pairing of Erik Karlsson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Karlsson leads the team in blocked shots and takeaways, while Vlasic is second on the team in blocked shots and hits. They will need to bring their A-game against the Golden Knights, who have a deep and talented group of forwards. Overall, while the Sharks have struggled defensively this season, they have shown some improvement in their last 10 games. However, they will need to tighten up their penalty kill and get strong performances from their top defenders to have a chance against the high-scoring Golden Knights.

Injury Report

As the Golden Knights face off against the Sharks, both teams have some key injuries to keep in mind. For the Sharks, Markus Nutivaara is out with a lower body injury, Evgeny Svechnikov is out with an undisclosed injury, Luke Kunin is out for the season with a knee injury, Andreas Johnsson is day to day with an undisclosed injury, Alexander Barabanov is day to day with a lower-body injury, and Jonah Gadjovich is out with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are without William Carrier due to a lower-body injury, Robin Lehner for the entire season due to a hip injury, Nolan Patrick with an upper body injury, Reilly Smith is day to day with an undisclosed injury, Mark Stone is out with a back injury, Adin Hill is out with a lower body injury, and Logan Thompson is day to day with an undisclosed injury. These injuries could have a significant impact on the game and should be taken into consideration when making NHL picks or predictions.

Prediction:

The Vegas Golden Knights are the clear favorites in this matchup as they hold the top spot in the Pacific Division, while the San Jose Sharks sit in last place. The Golden Knights have been in top form lately, winning 8 of their last 10 games, while the Sharks have struggled with just 1 win in their last 10. Vegas' recent performance, combined with their strong record against the Pacific Division, make them the safer team to bet on.

Pick: Vegas Golden Knights (Moneyline)