NFL Show
San Jose Sharks (10-16-5) vs. Los Angeles Kings (16-12-5)
The 2022-23 NHL season continues Saturday, December 17, with a loaded 13-game slate, so we are breaking down the Pacific Division showdown between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
The puck drop is set for 10:30 PM ET. The Kings open as firm -170 home favorites with a total of 6.0 goals. This is the second meeting of the season between San Jose and LA, and the Kings beat the Sharks 5-2 as -145 road favorites with a total of 6.0 goals on November 25.
The San Jose Sharks have won two games in a row over Anaheim 6-1 and Arizona 3-2 after losing four straight to Toronto 3-1, Ottawa 5-2, Buffalo 6-3, and Vancouver 6-5 in overtime. Last Tuesday, the Sharks barely outlasted the Coyotes as -170 home favorites, though they outshot Arizona 33-22. Tomas Hertl, Nick Bonino, and Nico Sturm all found the back of the net, while Scott Harrington notched a couple of assists.
“I think we’ve deserved more than we’ve had this year,” Bonino said. “They hung on a little bit at the end and they kept coming and coming. But it’s nice to get the win and it’s nice to contribute.”
James Reimer post ed 20 stops in his return from an injury, improving to 6-8-2 on the season. Kaapo Kahkonen (3-6-2; 3.71 GAA; .877 SV%) and rookie Eetu Makiniemi (1-0-1; 2.13 GAA; .906 SV%) are waiting for their chance, but Reimer should get another starting call Saturday in LA.
Goodnight Sharks fam! We'll be sleeping peacefully tonight ?? pic.twitter.com/FIKR2G0OXJ
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 14, 2022
The Sharks score 3.06 goals per game (tied-18th in the NHL) on a 10.2 shooting percentage (13th). They are 17-for-80 with the man advantage (21st) and own the third-best penalty-killing percentage in the league (84.6%). Still, the Sharks are 25th in the NHL in goals against, allowing 3.52 goals per contest.