#NHL Free Pick from Mike Lundin
(NHL) Los Angeles vs. San Jose,
Money Line: -116.00 San Jose (Home)
Result: Win
Play: San Jose Sharks
Rating: 5*

The San Jose Sharks will take on the Los Angeles Kings home in the Shark Tank as they open up the 2016-17 NHL season Wednesday night. The road team is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings, but the Sharks are 5-1 in the last six overall and dispatched the Kings in five games in the opening round of the playoffs last year.

The Kings will have to do without Marian Gaborik who is sidelined with a broken foot sustained during the World Cup of Hockey, and Milan Lucic left the team via free agency during the summer. San Jose meanwhile has picked up several interesting young players in the off-season and the roster has a strong look to it.

Former Kings netminder Martin Jones was 37-23-4, six shutouts and a 2.27 GAA with the Sharks last year, and that included a 3-11 mark against the Kings. I look for him to lead the Sharks to a win tonight.