PREMIUM
Rogers' ICE BREAKER >> B2B SWEEPS! PERFECT 6-0 Overall L2 Days!
(NHL) San Jose vs. Pittsburgh,
Money Line: -167.00 Pittsburgh (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -167.00 Pittsburgh (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions are serving notice that they have no intention of going away quietly. The season has been a struggle but Pittsburgh's 2-1 setback at San Jose on Jan. 20 was just the second in the team's last nine outings (7-2-0). The 27-21-3 Penguins now have 57 points and are currently tied with Columbus for second-place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins welcome the Sharks to PPG Paints Arena with 26-15-7 San Jose looking to strengthen its grasp on second in the Pacific Division (59 points) after it loosened a bit with back-to-back one-goal losses on the heels of wins in five of its previous six contests.
San Jose: All-Star defenseman Brent Burns (team-high 34 assists, 41 points) set up a pair of goals in the previous tilt versus the Penguins and aims to extend his six-game assist and point streak as the Sharks open a five-game road trip. Logan Couture has turned it on this month with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last 10 games, including four (three goals, one assist) during his last three game. He has a team-high 20 goals on the season, putting him within five of his total in 2016-17 and 12 shy of his career-best campaign in 2010-11. Martin Jones (14-11-4, 2.68 GAA & .910 SP) is expected to return in goal after sitting out his team's last four games with an undisclosed ailment.
Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been picking up steam in January. Crosby is riding high with a nine-game assist and point streak (three goals, 16 assists). The Pens have won the first two contests of their four-game homestand to improve to 17-7-1 at PPG Paints Arena on the season. Matt Murray is expected to return to the crease on Tuesday, marking 26 full days since his last start (Jan. 4) and 23 since his last game action (Jan. 7). He left the team to spend time with his family prior to the death of his father, James, on Jan. 16, and was kept on the bench when he returned to the club by coach Mike Sullivan.
The pick: Murray has silenced the Sharks during his young career, turning aside all 32 shots he faced in his lone encounter last season and posting a 1.77 goals-against average as Pittsburgh captured the Stanley Cup in 2016 with a six-game series. As for Martin's return to goal for San Jose, he's just 5-7-2 on the road this season with a 2.85 goals-against. That leaves a bit to be desired, considering Pittsburgh averages 3.32 GPG at home. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.
San Jose: All-Star defenseman Brent Burns (team-high 34 assists, 41 points) set up a pair of goals in the previous tilt versus the Penguins and aims to extend his six-game assist and point streak as the Sharks open a five-game road trip. Logan Couture has turned it on this month with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last 10 games, including four (three goals, one assist) during his last three game. He has a team-high 20 goals on the season, putting him within five of his total in 2016-17 and 12 shy of his career-best campaign in 2010-11. Martin Jones (14-11-4, 2.68 GAA & .910 SP) is expected to return in goal after sitting out his team's last four games with an undisclosed ailment.
Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been picking up steam in January. Crosby is riding high with a nine-game assist and point streak (three goals, 16 assists). The Pens have won the first two contests of their four-game homestand to improve to 17-7-1 at PPG Paints Arena on the season. Matt Murray is expected to return to the crease on Tuesday, marking 26 full days since his last start (Jan. 4) and 23 since his last game action (Jan. 7). He left the team to spend time with his family prior to the death of his father, James, on Jan. 16, and was kept on the bench when he returned to the club by coach Mike Sullivan.
The pick: Murray has silenced the Sharks during his young career, turning aside all 32 shots he faced in his lone encounter last season and posting a 1.77 goals-against average as Pittsburgh captured the Stanley Cup in 2016 with a six-game series. As for Martin's return to goal for San Jose, he's just 5-7-2 on the road this season with a 2.85 goals-against. That leaves a bit to be desired, considering Pittsburgh averages 3.32 GPG at home. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.
