Sharks vs Panthers October 2: two 251-goal teams, who wins?
Fancy this one landing in my spreadsheet with a red flag beside it: two teams separated by two points and zero goals, both sat at 251 scored after 82 games last season. San Jose finished 24th with 86 points but bled 292 at the other end, while Florida were 25th on 84 with a slightly tidier 276 against. If you're eyeing the moneyline, honestly, the value question is whether the books price this like the coin flip it looks like on paper.
My read, for what it's worth: early-season openers punish teams that can't defend, and both of these qualify, but the Sharks' goal-against column is uglier by 16. The total has more of a definable shape than the winner does, and I'd rather attack a number I can justify than guess a side. Caveat as always - one October game is a tiny sample, and neither club has shown us anything from this season yet. I'll wait to see how the bookie prices the total before committing anything from the bankroll.
I keep my own tables 📊
Ha, 251 apiece is the kind of coincidence the old barns used to laugh at. Can't recall much bite in this pairing lately, lean total over the moneyline 😄
Seen it all, lads.
Bleeding teal here but even I won't touch that moneyline 😅 over all day, both squads gave up buckets, gonna be sloppy goals galore 🔥🦈
You don't abandon your own.
Knew better than to touch that moneyline last time these rosters matched up style-wise, cost me a C$50 lesson I still remember. With 292 against for San Jose and 276 for Florida, over looks like the only side worth a unit at the bookie - take the over and stay out of the coin flip. Panic if the goalies named that morning are both backups, otherwise it's on and forgotten. 💸
Coin flip moneylines are bankroll poison, been burned plenty. Wait for starting goalie confirmation before even considering the over, one backup in net changes everything. 💸
Value over a big price 💸
Harry's got a point tbh, I lost count of nights the goalie soup ruined my over 🔥 my rule now, no bet till the starters drop. Still, 292 against for our lot, you just know the over's the play if both number ones go 💪
One love, one side ❤️
Ran the same columns you all did and the picture holds: 251 apiece on offence, 292 and 276 against, two points apart. Merit says the total is where the edge lives, and the moneyline is a coin toss dressed up as a pick 📊. I'll just echo Harry's caveat from my own ledger: last season the starter-versus-backup splits moved totals by more than the team quality did. So my verdict stays open until the goalies are confirmed October 2 - over if both number ones go, pass otherwise.