The San Jose Sharks (17-16-3) and Vegas Golden Knights (16-8-10) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 10:00 p.m. EST at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-115o / -110u). The Golden Knights are a -225 favorite to win outright, while the Sharks are +180 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Sharks vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks.
Sharks vs. Golden Knights Odds, Pick
| Sharks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -138 | 6 -115o / -110u | +180 |
| Golden Knights Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +112 | 6 -115o / -110u | -225 |
- Sharks vs. Golden Knights Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 (+112 ), Sharks +1.5 (-138)
- Sharks vs. Golden Knights Over/Under: 6 (-115o / -110u)
- Sharks vs. Golden Knights Moneyline: Sharks +180, Golden Knights -225
Sharks vs. Golden Knights Preview
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks’ rebuild has gone as well as you can imagine.
Superstar youngster Macklin Celebrini is one of the brightest young talents in the league, registering 54 points in 36 games played, including 14 points in his last seven games.
But I think what’s so much more impressive is that, beyond Celebrini, the Sharks have spread the wealth with nine players scoring 15 points or more.
Remember when coach Ryan Warsofsky said he’d give away one of his kids for a win? Despite losing two in a row, San Jose is just two points away from playoff positioning, and before the losing streak, had won four out of five games.
The Sharks are also playing at an incredibly high level at 5-on-5 play this month, with a 52.93 xGF% on the offensive end, and on the defensive end with a 2.7 xGA/60.
Special teams could be better, but for a young team, I expected a worse penalty kill, where they succeed at a 78.1% success rate. San Jose is scoring on the power play at an 18.3% clip, and I think it could get even better.
In net, Yaroslav Askarov has solidified himself as the top guy, but has been fairly vulnerable over the past few games. I think we see him again tonight, since backup Alex Nedeljkovic doesn’t have a great track record against the Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas had started the month of December really strong with a 5-0-1 record, but has actually lost three games in a row, with one in overtime.
This is such a well-put-together team, though, and Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner have shaped up to be one of the more dynamic duos of the NHL. Not only that, but the return of Captain Mark Stone has only created more momentum for this franchise.
Vegas’ 5-on-5 offense has done well this month, but it could be better, playing to a 13th-best 50.74 xGF%, but the defensive side of the puck is the Golden Knights’ bread and butter with a sixth-best 2.49 xGA/60.
Not just that, the power play.
When you have an elite playmaker like Marner moving the puck around with the man advantage, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the power play converts at an elite level.
The big question has forever lain in net. Akira Schmid has started most games due to the injury of Adin Hill. But now, Carter Hart has taken over the crease and has fared well since returning to the league for the first time since January 2024.
Hart right now has played to a .903 SV% and a 0.5 GSAx. A slow return to the league is expected, but there have been a handful of games that showcase just how great he can be when he’s up to full speed.
Sharks vs. Golden Knights Prediction
San Jose and Vegas had a real heated rivalry a few years ago before the Sharks began their rebuild. But now with the Sharks back to playing a competitive style of hockey, don’t be surprised if this has that same kind of fire.
Both teams are coming off a two-game losing streak, but I actually think there’s an opportunity for the Sharks to pull the win away.
Using Action Network’s Bet Labs, our Director of Research, Evan Abrams’ Contrarian Road Dog model suggests that picking Sharks moneyline is a tantalizing option here.
The model has a 42% success rate in its lifetime, but this season, it’s actually converting at a near-50% clip.
It’s very possible that the Sharks can pull this out, as the last four road games they have played in, they’ve come out with a win, and Vegas hasn’t been the strongest at home in the past month.
Pick: Sharks ML (+180)
