Dallas Stars vs San Jose Sharks Prediction, 12/18/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Dallas Stars vs San Jose Sharks

Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025

Location: SAP Center in San Jose, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Stars (-145) Sharks (+125)

The Dallas Stars (22-7-5) are hitting the road to SAP Center on Thursday where they will try to defeat the San Jose Sharks (17-14-3). The odds on this game have the Stars at -145 and the Sharks are sitting at +125. The total comes in at 6.5.

The Dallas Stars came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 4-1 win against the Kings their last time out. The Stars had a solid offensive output and it showed in the victory. For the game, they scored on 4 out of the 26 shots they put on net. Additionally, they had 2 power play opportunities but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. Dallas tallied 8 penalty minutes for this matchup.

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With respect to their scoring capabilities, the Dallas Stars have racked up 112 goals (4th in the league) on the campaign and have given up 88. For the season, they have scored 49 points and their points percentage sits at .721. Dallas is sitting with 105 power play opportunities and they have added 33 goals during those chances, garnering them a percentage of 31.43%. While playing at even strength, the Stars have conceded 69 goals while scoring 79 as an offensive unit. Dallas has taken 854 shots and holds a shot percentage of 13.1%. The Stars thus far have had 945 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .907. Dallas Stars opponents have 108 power play tries (7th in hockey) and have scored 19 goals in those attempts.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Jake Oettinger. Oettinger has been involved in 273 matchups during his hockey career. He has amassed a record of 163-72-29 and got the start in 264 games. The opposition has racked up 664 goals against Oettinger in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 2.52. Oettinger has had 7,504 shot attempts against him and has amassed 6,840 saves. He has a save percentage of .912 for his 13,358 minutes guarding the cage. For his professional hockey career, Oettinger has recorded 156 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .591.

In their last contest, San Jose played the Flames in a matchup where the Sharks ended up with the win by a final of 6-3. The Sharks earned 6 goals of the 26 shots on goal they attempted. They had 1 chance on the power play in this outing but weren't able to put one in the back of the net.

The Sharks are sitting with 79 goals at even strength and 22 goals (10th in the league) while on the power play. San Jose has attempted 829 shots (30th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 12.18%, while allowing their opponents 1,074 shots. During this campaign, the San Jose Sharks are sitting with 101 goals, 37 points, and a points percentage of .544. They have allowed 112 goals to be scored by of a combination of 88 goals at even strength and 24 goals while they were shorthanded. They have earned 119 power play chances and they have a power play percentage of 18.49%. They have a penalty kill rate of 78.57% on the other teams 112 power play opportunities, and their save percentage sits at 89.6%.

For the opposition you are likely to see Yaroslav Askarov between the pipes. Askarov has earned a lifetime mark of 17-15-3 and has played in 37 games. Askarov's quality start rate is 57.1% and he has qualified for 20 quality starting assignments in his career. He has racked up 961 stops out of the 1,068 shots taken against him, which gives him a save % of .900. Opponents are averaging 3.06 goals per game and he has relinquished 107 goals in total. He got the starting nod in 35 games and has accumulated 898 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take San Jose (+125)

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