Avalanche Underdogs in Game 7 Against Sharks

• Sharks goalie Martin Jones gave up four goals in Game 6 after giving up just five in his previous three games
• Joe Pavelski is a game-time decision for Game 7
• The Sharks already won a Game 7 vs Las Vegas in the first round

For a second straight playoff series, the San Jose Sharks are going to a Game 7. This time, it’s with the Colorado Avalanche, who extended the Western Conference semifinals to the limit after winning Game 6 in OT.

The Sharks are favored to win Game 7 (and therefore the series), but are they the best bet?

Avalanche vs Sharks Game 7 Odds/Series Price

Avalanche Win Game 6 in Overtime

Holding a 3-2 series lead, the Sharks were a -400 favorite prior to Game 6. However, they were never in control in Game 6 as the Avalanche led 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, and eventually won 4-3 in overtime.

Each time they faced a one-goal deficit, the Sharks came back to tie it. However, they were just a step slow all night and that showed.

Landeskog! The Captain with some heroics to force Game 7??? pic.twitter.com/cFquzwpfM7

— YP? (@YoungPageviews) May 7, 2019

The Avs had more shots (26-22), threw more hits (31-24), and won more faceoffs (36-32). The Sharks will have to turn some of those numbers if they’re to win in Game 7.

Avs Win Without MacKinnon

If someone would have told you that Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen would have zero points in Game 6, most people would have figured that the Avs would lose. However, MacKinnon and Rantanen were both pointless and were a -2. Even so, Colorado was able to get the puck past Martin Jones four times.

In game 5, the #SJSharks contained Nathan MacKinnon with physical play, as shown here on @Sportsnet‘s broadcast. They’ll look to do the same tonight to close out the series. #stanleycup pic.twitter.com/xEuiD48X02

— Brian Truong (@_BrianTruong) May 6, 2019

MacKinnon had an eight-game playoff point streak going before this, which was tied with Peter Forsberg for the franchise record. The fact that they won when he had an off night is very encouraging for their Game 7 chances.

Bad Martin Jones Shows Up Again

The Sharks were lucky to escape the first round as goaltender Martin Jones was a mess. He had posted a save percentage of .895 or worse in four of the seven games, and the team still managed to win. He had mostly left those poor efforts in Round 1 but Game 6 was by far his worst showing of round two.

JT Compher fires one past Martin Jones to give #GoAvsGo the 2-1 lead.

(Via @NHLonNBCSports)pic.twitter.com/zRnpXuB347

— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) May 7, 2019

Jones, who hadn’t allowed more than three goals in any game and had posted save percentage of .926 in the series, stopped just 22 of 26 shots while giving up four goals. He had allowed just five goals in the previous three games. He has to be better if the Sharks are to advance.

Sharks Should Win In Game 7

I’m really tempted to bet the Avalanche as they’ll come in with confidence. They’re playing with the house’s money as they weren’t expected to be here. Meanwhile, the Sharks have all of the pressure on their backs as they’re the veteran squad with home-ice advantage that’s supposed to win.

We have a @jpav8 sighting in the Shark Tank! pic.twitter.com/wtC9mwsRSc

— #StanleyCup on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) May 5, 2019

We’ve seen the two teams alternate wins and losses for six games and we should see that one more time as the Sharks get the final win. Look for Joe Pavelski, who is a game-time decision, to get back in the lineup and for Jones to play better. Along with the home-ice advantage, that should be the difference.

Pick: San Jose Sharks (-132)