Saturday night hockey in the NHL features a matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks. Welcome back to NHL predictions here on Last Word on Hockey! Each day, we take a look at the league’s matchups, making predictions on all the NHLs games. In today’s matchup, Sidney Crosby and his Penguins limp into a matchup hosting Macklin Celebrini and the youthful Sharks. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions for all of the exciting games on Saturday and in the NHL this season here on Last Word on Hockey!
NHL Predictions
San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST); 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
TV: ESPN+, Sportsnet Pittsburgh; NBC Sports California
Fast approaching American Thanksgiving, the teams in this matchup face very different situations. The Penguins, following a 6-2 thrashing the night before at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets, limp into this matchup going 3-5-2 in their last 10. Meanwhile, the energetic San Jose Sharks rank 31st in the league, going 5-4-1 in their last 10. The Sharks are a team on a slight upswing, correlating with the return of their new star, Celebrini. With contributions from rookies and veterans, the Sharks are in a good spot.
The Penguins’ Story
Pittsburgh is at rock bottom during the Mike Sullivan era. Consecutive years missing the playoffs have played into a disastrous start to the season. Ranked 26th in the league, the teams defensive systems and goaltending have been glaring issues. Between the team’s three goaltenders, the lesser-performing two are still on the roster and floundering. Alex Nedeljkovic and Tristan Jarry both sport losing records of 2-3-3 and 1-2.
Additionally, they both carry disappointing .884 and .847 save percentages respectively. With either goaltender in the net, the team’s anemic defence will have a hard time fighting back the high-octane Sharks offence. Kris Letang missed the game against Columbus with illness and may not be able to line up. A struggling Erik Karlsson will have to carry the load.
Offensively, Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continue to lead the charge. However, the drop-off in production after their contributions is stark. Anthony Beauvillier has begun heating up recently, with goals in three games. Micheal Bunting also scored against the Blue Jackets, breaking a personal scoring drought. Although the team has endured thrashing this week, it seems as though a few slumbering forwards have begun waking up.
The Sharks’ Story
Following an expected bad start to the season, the return of Celebrini has coincided with the Sharks’ overall clicking as a team. In net, Mackenzie Blackwood has been a pleasant surprise. With a .910 save percentage, he is easily forgiven for his 3-5-2 record. Similarly, back-up Vitek Vanecek has a .903 save percentage to go with his 2-5-1 record. Even with neither goaltender winning a majority of their games, they are giving adequate performances. This could make them potential trade assets for a rebuilding Sharks team. Former Detroit Red Wing defenceman Jake Walman leads the Sharks defence with 9 points in 13 games. He’s taken up a significant role on a defensively weak Sharks team alongside players like Cody Ceci and Mario Ferraro. New acquisition Timothy Liljegren has also made his presence known, scoring his first goal as a Shark in their last game.
The Sharks possess an electric offence. Centre Mikael Granlund leads the way, as the former Penguin has 18 points in 18 games. In addition to his early brilliance, Fabian Zetterlund, Tyler Toffoli and William Eklund have all provided offensive depth, tied for 2nd in team points with 12 a piece. Former fourth overall pick Will Smith has struggled, with just 3 points in 14 games. He’ll need to work on his game and could have a good night against the Penguins. Finally, the first overall pick in 2024 Macklin Celebrini will look to make an impact in his first game against the legendary Sidney Crobsy.
Prediction
Pittsburgh is in a terrible rut. Their defensive mistakes seem to be have only been amplified against Columbus with Kris Letang’s sudden absence. With the high-powered weapons of the Sharks, expect a Sharks win in Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Sharks win 3-2 in overtime.
Prop Bets of the Night
The Penguins are having significant issues with preventing goals. Fanduel’s over-7, with a +176 is a good shout with the way the team has been trending lately.
Main photo by: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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