New Jersey vs San Jose | Betting Preview, Odds, Pick

New Jersey Devils vs. San Jose Sharks – NHL Betting Preview
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Where: HP Pavillion, San Jose, California
On: Versus Network

The Olympics are over and now it is Back to Business for NHL Clubs. Two of the NHL’s elite clubs meet in San Jose to kick of their stretch run with the aim to keep momentum and to pad their already impressive playoff status. Fatigue will be a large factor in this game as Dan Boyle, Dan Heatley, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelksi for San Jose and Martin Brodeur for New Jersey were all involved in Sunday’s emotional Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Game.

• The San Jose Sharks rank 2nd on offense, and average 3.2 goals per game. The Sharks are 22.1% on the power play and have 52 power play goals.
• The New Jersey Devils rank 21st on offense, and average 2.6 goals per game. The Devils are 18.5% on the power play and have 39 power play goals.
• The Sharks average 3.4 goals per game at home, and give up 2.3 goals against on defense.
• The Devils average 2.2 goals per game on the road, and give up 2.4 goals against on defense.

New Jersey Devils (37-21-3): +130

Puck Line: + 1 ½

The New Jersey Devils have lived at the top of the NHL Eastern Conference standings for the better part of a decade and a half and this year is no different. They sit in second place in the East and boast the NHL’s fourth best record. The Devils come into San Jose in the bottom third of NHL teams on offense and play a Sharks team that is third in the league in Goals against. But, it appears that New Jersey’s visit to the Shark tank is at the perfect time – the Olympic hangover will still be resonating in the heads of the four Team Canada members on the San Jose roster. Look for a strong effort from the Devils who will be out to make a statement in this game and to put their 3-5-2 pre-Olympic streak behind them.

San Jose Sharks (40-13-9): -150

Puck Line: -1 ½

The San Jose Sharks are in a familiar position – at the top of the Western Conference standings in the regular season. Their post-season success has yet to be realized, but make no mistake, this team is built for triumph in June. They are solid from the goaltending to the forwards and  from the coaching to the front office – this team will no longer tolerate failure in the playoffs. Look for the Sharks to maintain their momentum in the final six weeks of the season but have a rough go on Tuesday night against a surprisingly rested Martin Brodeur who suddenly has a lot to prove to the Hockey world.

On paper, this game is a surprisingly lopsided affair. San Jose is clearly the better team. But, the first game back from a layoff is always tough and with four San Jose players still drunk from their Olympic experience, San Jose’s firepower will be more like a smoldering ember. I love the Sharks, but just not in this game.

Pick: New Jersey Devils +130