The New York Islanders are set to host the San Jose Sharks at UBS Arena in what shapes up to be a crucial matchup between two teams desperately seeking to turn their seasons around.
Both teams enter Saturday's contest mired in significant slumps, with the Islanders (17-20-7) having dropped their last two games while managing just three goals, and the Sharks (14-27-6) showing signs of life despite winning only three of their last ten matches.
The offensive struggles have been particularly evident for both squads, with the Islanders averaging just 2.61 goals per game while the Sharks have managed a mere 2.57, ranking them among the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL.
The goaltending battle could prove decisive, as Sharks' netminder Yaroslav Askarov (.917 save percentage) has been a rare bright spot for San Jose, while Islanders' Ilya Sorokin has struggled to find consistency with a .900 save percentage this season.
Key forwards Bo Horvat and Anders Lee will need to spark the Islanders' attack, while the Sharks look to their young trio of Mikael Granlund, William Eklund, and Macklin Celebrini to provide offensive punch.
As these struggling teams prepare to face off in what could be a turning point for either squad, hockey fans will be watching closely to see which team can overcome their offensive woes and secure a much-needed victory at UBS Arena.
New York Islanders vs. San Jose Sharks: who will win?
For tonight's New York Islanders vs San Jose Sharks matchup, our predictive model gives the Islanders a 54.67% chance of defeating the Sharks.
New York Islanders: 54.67% win probability
- Recent momentum (3 wins in last 5 games - LLWWW)
- Better defensive record (136 goals against vs Sharks' 165)
- Higher points total (41 points vs Sharks' 34 points)
San Jose Sharks: 45.33% win probability
- Poor recent form (1 win in last 5 games - LWLLL)
- League-worst goals against (165 goals conceded in 47 games)
- Low win percentage (14 wins in 47 games, 29.8% win rate)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
New York Islanders vs. San Jose Sharks odds
| New York Islanders | San Jose Sharks | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -225 (via BetMGM Sportsbook) | +192 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The New York Islanders have won 17 out of 44 matches this season.
- 2The San Jose Sharks have won 14 out of 47 matches this season.
- 3With 41 points, the New York Islanders holds the 15th position in the league standings.
- 4San Jose Sharks's 34 points place them 15th in the rankings.
New York Islanders vs. San Jose Sharks form
New York Islanders vs. San Jose Sharks head to head
New York Islanders
50%
San Jose Sharks
50%
Mar 8, 2024
San Jose Sharks
2 : 7
New York Islanders
Dec 6, 2023
New York Islanders
4 : 5
San Jose Sharks
Mar 19, 2023
San Jose Sharks
1 : 4
New York Islanders
Oct 18, 2022
New York Islanders
5 : 2
San Jose Sharks
Feb 25, 2022
San Jose Sharks
4 : 3
New York Islanders
Dec 3, 2021
New York Islanders
1 : 2
San Jose Sharks
