The Vegas Golden Knights, who had a record of 45-29-8 last season, will take on the hapless San Jose Sharks, who recorded a 19-54-9 record last season, in an exciting NHL pre-season fixture this Sunday. With the teams making their way to the SAP Center at San Jose, the fans and the bettors are ready to latch onto what is surely going to be an engaging encounter. This duel allows us to have a closer look at possible ways of development and corrections for each of the teams. Consider the NHL latest predictions of matches and tournament based odds on both teams.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks 9/22/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where: | SAP Center at San Jose |
| TV: | – |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Vegas Golden Knights (45-29-8 Last Season) vs. San Jose Sharks (19-54-9 Last Season)
The Vegas Golden Knights, much like the powerhouse Boston Bruins, are led by stalwarts such as Jack Eichel and William Karlsson, whose offensive skills will be pivotal in challenging the San Jose Sharks’ defense. Eichel’s agility and Karlsson’s sharpshooting, similar to the Bruins‘ approach, are expected to test the Sharks’ ability to hold the line, demanding high defensive resilience to keep the Knights at bay. This offensive pressure from the Knights is crucial for breaking through the Sharks’ barriers in this anticipated match-up.
On the other hand, San Jose Sharks aim to bounce back after a disappointing season and they hope that Mikael Granlund and William Eklund will bring in the much-needed goals. For instance, 48 assists were recorded for Granlund due to his skill level as a setup man for the Sharks. This means Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund should not waste their chances and should score against a strong Knights’ defense. Led by Hutton, the sharks are not as liberal an offensive unit as a knight’s team but this does not mean that the sharks offensive unit doesn’t come in to seal chances to score against the enemy more so on power plays and holds on to the attack inside the offensive zone.
Goaltender Adin Hill vs. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood
Adin Hill, the most vital man in Golden Knights’ defense, is coming off a good season with a save percentage of 0.909. Turning in great performances in critical situations will be necessary for Sharks’ chances of scoring. Hill’s calmness and experience will be a great asset for the Knights, especially during the periods of change in the momentum of the game which are very critical.
On the other side, Mackenzie Blackwood will guard the net for the Sharks. Last season, he confronted several problems with a 3.45 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. He will have no chances but to elevate his performances quite a bit in order for the Sharks to remain in contention against teams like the Golden Knights who tend to score lots of goals.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
As the betting lines are yet to be established, analyzing the trends and performances gives the Golden Knights a slight edge due to their stronger last season and better-rounded team dynamics. However, preseason games often yield unpredictable results, making it a tantalizing prospect for bettors seeking value in underdog bets or unexpected outcomes.
Vegas Golden Knights Betting Trends
The Golden Knights have faced the enemy head-on, especially in recent matches played away from home where they have been able to stay respectable against the spread. It indicates consistency in their performance but a jittery, some will say caution-adding, attitude is advised on the over/under owing to their varying totals in the games played.
San Jose Sharks Betting Trends
The Sharks have underperformed, especially when it comes to consistency and defense. These measures have not translated to positive spread performance, and the stats support the same as well. They should keep an eye out on the preseason strategies for any changes that could affect their regular season performance.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks 9/22/24 Betting Picks
As per the analysis of team compositions, goaltending strength, and performance trends over the recent period, it does appear that the Vegas Golden Knights are in a position to dominate the action. What makes them a more prudent wager, particularly during an NBA preseason where teams are getting a feel for each other, is their strong offense and good goaltending.
Thus, for those who are considering over/under or prop bets, it is suggested to put the emphasis on the individual’s performance of Eichel in terms of points or that of Hill in terms of saves. This matchup, which is part of our premium sports prediction, indicates that the Golden Knights will play better than the opponents which is ideal for the ongoing NHL preseason.