Stanley Cup Betting Preview: San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Game 5 Odds

The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their domination of the San Jose Sharks with a 3-1 victory in Game 4 on the road Monday and can hoist their fourth Stanley Cup by winning Game 5 at home Thursday.

In fact, the only time the Penguins have trailed in the series came when they lost Game 3 at San Jose in overtime, and they bring that confidence back to the Consol Energy Center as -145 betting favorites (bet $145 to win $100) over the offensively challenged Sharks at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

San Jose has struggled mightily to score in this series, wasting an outstanding effort between the pipes from goaltender Martin Jones, who made a series-low 17 saves in Game 4 after a series-high 40 in a 3-2 Game 3 overtime victory.

The Sharks had been outshot in the first three games and managed just 24 shots against Pittsburgh rookie goalie Matt Murray in Game 4. Murray improved to 5-0 following a loss and made more saves than Jones for the first time in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Penguins got goals from Ian Cole in the first period, Evgeni Malkin in the second and Eric Fehr in the third in Game 4 to continue a balanced offensive showing that has seen captain Sidney Crosby tally only two points on two assists in the entire series.

Crosby has failed to register a point in each of the past two games but has done a fine job on faceoffs, while Malkin broke a three-game pointless streak by scoring his first goal since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Unlike their previous three Stanley Cup championship runs, defense has been the key to Pittsburgh’s success this time around.

Despite having offensive stars like Crosby and Malkin, the Pens have consistently found ways to severely limit the opposition defensively throughout the playoffs, taking pressure off Murray. Their defense has been the difference in a series that has seen Jones face 35 more shots than Murray.

The under has cashed in every game, improving to 7-1 in the past eight meetings between the two teams, according to the Odds Shark NHL Database, along with 5-0 in Pittsburgh’s past five overall.