The NHL First Round Playoff Games have arrived as Pickswise will be handing out daily winning NHL picks starting on Wednesday. With over a decade of combined winning experience, Pickswise is your number one NHL first round playoff resource to win. To kick off the first round playoff games, the Las Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks from the Western Conference will go toe to toe. Enjoy these free NHL first round playoff predictions? Give @Pickswise a follow and get a first hand-look on his daily research.
Knights vs. Sharks First Round Playoff Predictions
Game 1: VGS Golden Knights at SJ Sharks
Line: Sharks -140
Pickswise Expert Picks: Golden Knights ML / WIN
Both teams in this first round match-up stumble into this season’s playoffs as the two-seeded Sharks host rival the three-seeded Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the opening round of the 2019 NHL playoffs. The Sharks have struggled lately with more losses than wins in their last 10 games coming in, but they ended the regular season with back-to-back victories. Vegas enters on a two-game losing streak. The Golden Knights have won six of the last 10 head-to-head meetings. That also includes four wins in their last six games with the Sharks. These teams met twice at the SAP Center in March with both teams splitting those games. These teams met in the second round in last season’s playoffs with the Knights knocking out the Sharks four games to two. This series could be much like that one from last season. The teams met four times this season with Vegas going 2-2 against San Jose. This should be a tight game and possibly high scoring, but in a sneaky way, the Vegas Golden Knights could steal a game early to flip this series. Take the Golden Knights in game one.
Game 2: VGS Golden Knights at SJ Sharks
Line: Sharks -135
Pickswise Expert Picks: Sharks ML/ WIN
It was a gamble to pick the Golden Knights in game one, and that was the choice, but as it turned out the San Jose Sharks came to play in that first game. Game two takes center stage in San Jose, as the Knights and Sharks square-off at the SAP center. San Jose completely ran Vegas off the ice in game one winning 5-2. It looked like it was going to be a closely battled game. Man was that wrong, as the Sharks jumped out and didn’t look back. Vegas has now lost three straight games and has only won twice in their last 10 games. The Sharks, on the other hand, have now won three games in a row. If the Knights struggle early their deep playoff run hopes could hit a brick wall here in the first round. If San Jose takes a two-game lead into games three and four what is to stop them from sweeping Vegas. Roll with the Sharks to take a commanding two-game lead in the series by winning game two.
Game 3: SJ Sharks at VGS Golden Knights
Line: Golden Knights -150
Pickswise Expert Picks: Golden Knights ML/ WIN
Its a wild and crazy first round series for the Sharks and Golden Knights as they enter game three tied at one game apiece. The Knights were able to outduel the Sharks in game two in a high scoring duel. San Jose was able to capture a win on their own ice in game one, but couldn’t keep the momentum rolling into game two and came up short. Now with the series heading to T-Moblie Arena in Las Vegas, the series looks to have shifted towards the Knights favor, with games three and four being played on their ice. Vegas has won six of their last 10 games against the Sharks and will look to keep that trend going in game three.
Luckily for San Jose, they have had better luck in their last three games with wins in two of those games. The Sharks won the most recent meeting at T-Mobile Arena, so they have proven they can win on the road, but that was back in January. The Knights should be able to take advantage in this series with a win in game three. Back Vegas in game three.
Game 4: SJ Sharks at VGS Golden Knights
Line: Golden Knights -155
Pickswise Expert Pick: Golden Knights ML/ WIN
This series could be turning for the worst for the San Jose Sharks, as they enter game four down 2-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights have won two straight after dropping game one at the SAP Center in San Jose. The series took a change in direction in game two when the Knights were able to get a much-needed road victory on the same ice they came up short on the game prior to that. Since their game one win, the Sharks have been outperformed by the Golden Knights. Much like they have in the last 10 head-to-head meetings as Vegas has won six of those last 10 meetings.
That also includes three victories over San Jose in the last five meetings. Each of the first three games has been high scoring duels, and each had over totals which this meeting should continue down that trend. Injuries and a suspension have the Sharks solid and strong line-up dwindling down in a series that they could be losing touch in, especially if Vegas gets the job done in game four. Due to the struggles of the Sharks, the Vegas Golden Knights are the way to go in game four.
Game 5: SJ Sharks at VGS Golden Knights
Line: SJ Sharks -120
Pickswise Expert Pick: Golden Knights ML/ WIN
The Vegas Golden Knights have all the cards in front of them as they hold a 3-1 lead over the Sharks heading into their game five match-up at the SAP Center in San Jose. The Sharks were able to win game one, but have had no answer for the Knights since that series opener, as Vegas has rolled to wins in three consecutive games. The Sharks are on the brink of elimination in this series much like they were in their playoff series a season ago against Vegas.
In their last 10 head-to-head meetings, the Vegas Golden Knights are 7-2-1 against San Jose. In the last three games, it hasn’t been close for the Sharks, as Vegas has scored no less than five goals in each of those meetings. Their most recent meeting in game four Vegas rolled to a 5-0 shutout of San Jose. That was the first game of this series to have an under total. San Jose is 3-7 in its last 10 games when playing Vegas. Back the Golden Knights in game five and clinch the series on their way to the 2nd round of the NHL Playoffs.
Game 6: SJ Sharks @ VGS Golden Knights
Line: Golden Knights -175
Pickswise Expert Pick: Golden Knights ML/ WIN
The San Jose Sharks were able to survive for another game, as they were able to beat the Vegas Golden Knights in game five. The Knights hold a 3-2 series lead heading back to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for game six. Vegas is 6-3-1 in their last 10 head-to-head meetings with San Jose. The Sharks were able to get a much-needed win to force game six in this series. In their last four meetings at T-Mobile Arena, the Sharks have struggled with only one victory in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights are 4-6 in their last 10 games, while the Sharks are 5-5 in their last 10 games. San Jose is 1-3 in their last four road games. Vegas is 3-2 in their last five home games. The Sharks have a 21-18-4 road record this season. The Knights are 26-12-5 at T-Mobile Arena this season. This should be yet another highly competitive duel between the Sharks and the Golden Knights. Vegas is a good pick to back to get the win in game six.
Game 7: VGS Golden Knights @ SJ Sharks
Line: Even
Pickswise Expert Pick: Sharks ML/ WIN
It all comes down to this, as the San Jose Sharks return to their own ice for a game seven showdown with rival the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights had jumped out to a 3-1 lead in this series, but have lost two straight since and now find themselves in a 3-3 tie in the series, with a berth in the next round of the playoffs on the line. This series looked very much in the hands of Vegas, but the Sharks have responded in a strong way by not only winning on their own ice but marching into T-Mobile Arena in game six and gutting out a double-overtime win. Vegas is 4-10 in it their last 14 games. The Golden Knights have struggled in their last seven road games managing only one win in those games. San Jose is 6-12 in its last 18 games and is 2-1 in their last three games at home against Vegas. Home ice hasn’t mattered much in this series, but the Sharks have shown they have the energy and ability to get the job done. The Sharks are a good pick to get the win in game seven.
