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Posted at 1:10 PM EST OT included. 10:30 PM EST. The Sharks have been one of the NHL’s most consistent franchises over the past decade. Every year come April, San Jose has consistently been a threat to make a deep run in the playoffs so they have pedigree. They are known as a tough Western Conference team that is always difficult to beat at home. While we’re just three games into the season, the early returns are not good regarding San Jose. Its lone win in three games came against the winless Sabres, 3-2. They mustered 25 shots on net and did not own a time of possession advantage. The Sharks looked very beatable against the Kings when L.A. beat them rather easily, 4-1. They were outshot by the Kings, 38-25. In its season opener, San Jose once again looked slower than the opposition in a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia. The Sharks are turning into a risky favorite and we’ll look to exploit that here.

The Islanders do not have much market appeal. They have one win in four games and that lone victory was also against the Sabres. However, the Islanders have played well but don’t have the wins to prove it. They dominated the Blues and lost 3-2. After the first period of that game, the Isles had a 21-6 shots on net advantage and a 68% possession time edge. The Islanders are loaded. Both the veterans and the young guns have talent. The offseason trade for Jordan Eberle, plus larger roles for youngsters Mathew Barzal and Josh Ho-Sang—and the continued presence of superstar John Tavares should have the Islanders creating havoc all season long. The Islanders have 40 shots or more on goal in their last two games but scored only twice. Puck luck plays a big time role in the outcome of games and thus far the Islanders haven’t had much. Thing is, the chances are there and if the chances are there the goals will follow. The Islanders have been the better team in three straight games and they’ll likely be the better team in this one too.  That makes them very worthy of getting behind. 

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