Chris Boline
Date: Friday, October 7, 2022
Location: O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: NHL Network
The 2022-23 NHL season is getting underway on Friday, Oct. 7 with the NHL Global Series. The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators will take part in a season-opening two-game series on Friday and Saturday in advance of the North American regular-season start. Both teams will be looking to get off to a strong start in the first leg of their two-game set and start the 2022-23 NHL season on a strong note. First, take a look at some of the best NHL hockey betting websites.
Last season, the San Jose Sharks finished in sixth place in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. The team had 77 points on the year with a record of 32-37-13. The Sharks missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season but will be determined to turn things around under new head coach David Quinn. Quinn was most recently the head coach of the New York Rangers from 2018-21.
As for the Predators, they kept alive an eight-year streak of playoff appearances in 2021-22, though they were bounced in the first round by the champion Colorado Avalanche in a quick 4-0 sweep. The Predators went 45-30-7 last season, good for 97 points and the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. After failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, Nashville will be hoping to start things off on a strong note on opening night.
Before we dive into the October 7 matchup between the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, check out our Stanley Cup betting guide and the best websites for betting on the NHL.
Sharks vs. Predators Odds
 | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
| San Jose Sharks | +1.5 (-160) | +165 | O5.5 (-130) |
| Nashville Predators | -1.5 (+135) | -195 | U5.5 (+110) |
Offseason Recaps
The San Jose Sharks had a busy offseason, hiring a new GM and head coach, and bringing in a slew of free agents ahead of the new campaign. Among the notable acquisitions include Luke Kunin, Oscar Lindblom, Steven Lorentz, Nico Sturm, and Matt Benning. While none of those players are game-changers, they’ll be solid additions to a Sharks team unlikely to be contending for the 2023 Stanley Cup. In terms of exits, the Sharks traded star defenseman Brent Burns to the Carolina Hurricanes, in a move primarily to dump his salary. Considering their rebuilding mindset, it wasn’t a huge shock for them to trade Burns, who had been with the team for 11 years.
As for the Predators, their primary goal in the offseason was to re-sign star forward Filip Forsberg, and they were successful in doing that. Forsberg is coming off his best season to date, having registered 84 points with an even split of 42 goals and 42 assists. In terms of additions, the Predators brought in physical presences such as Nino Niederreiter from the Carolina Hurricanes and Ryan McDonagh from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Both players have playoff experience and should help the Predators in their push for a deep run in the postseason.
How do the teams stack up?
The Predators are led by superstar defenseman Roman Josi, who is a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the ice. Last year, Josi recorded a career-high 96 points, including 23 goals and 73 assists. Josi can be a nightmare for opposing defenses to handle, as he often serves as an added force in the attacking third before quickly skating back on defense and covering his spot. The combination of Josi, Matt Duchene, and Forsberg on offense for the Predators is lethal, though the team is a bit top-heavy, lacking significant depth.
As for the Sharks, they’re considered significant long-shots to win the Stanley Cup in 2023 and are predicted to be among the bottom of the 2022-23 NHL standings when all is said and done. Led by the likes of Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier, and Erik Karlsson, the Sharks have a severe lack of depth outside of their star power. Meier is a constant goalscoring threat and is entirely unafraid to take a shot whenever the opportunity presents itself. Last season, he registered a career-high 76 points with 35 goals and 41 assists.
Offensively, the Sharks are at a clear disadvantage in this matchup. In 2021-22, the Sharks scored a total of 214 goals, which ranked second to last in the Western Conference. The Predators, on the other hand, scored 266 goals. In terms of defense, San Jose conceded 264 goals, sixth most in the West, while the Predators surrendered 252.
Sharks vs. Predators Pick
Home ice advantage will not be a factor in the NHL Global Series, as the teams will be overseas playing in the Czech Republic. That eliminates any external factors between the two teams, which allows a bettor to focus more heavily on the skill matchup. In that sense, the Predators are at a clear advantage. Because of that, I’m backing Roman Josi and the Predators to get the job done and do it handily, taking down the Sharks by at least two goals. The pick for this NHL Global Series game is Predators -1.5 (+130), as I’m expecting the superior and likely playoff-bound team to start the season off on a strong note, even if playing in unfamiliar circumstances out in Prague.
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