Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks Prediction, 10/29/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026

Location: SAP Center in San Jose, CA

TV: Sportsnet Pacific, NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Canucks (+164) Sharks (-198)

The San Jose Sharks (6-6-1) will compete against the Vancouver Canucks (3-10-1) at SAP Center on Thursday. The moneyline on this game has the Canucks at +164 while the Sharks are at -198. The total is 6.5.

The Vancouver Canucks will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 6-5 win against the Ducks in their previous outing. Vancouver accounted for 16 penalty mins in this matchup. The Canucks had a great offensive game plan going into this one and it showed in the victory. They also had 7 power play opportunities and were able to score 1 goal. In the matchup, they converted 6 of the 33 shots they attempted.

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Vancouver Canucks opponents have earned 47 power play opportunities (7th in hockey) and have scored 17 goals in those chances. The Canucks thus far have had 459 shots attempted against them and have earned a save percentage of .858. Vancouver has tried 291 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 14.8%. While at even strength, the Canucks let the opposition score 48 goals while getting 34 when they are on offense. Vancouver is sitting with 44 power play opportunities and they have notched 9 goals out of those advantages, garnering them a rate of 20.45%. For the season, they have 7 points and their points percentage sits at .250. When discussing their scoring capabilities, the Vancouver Canucks have tallied 43 goals (11th in the league) so far this year and have allowed 65.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Leevi Merilainen. Merilainen has played in 43 contests during his NHL career. He has amassed an overall mark of 18-17-4 and he has gotten the start in 39 games. The opposition has notched 118 goals versus Merilainen in his pro hockey career and his goals against rate is 3.03. Merilainen has had 1,062 shots taken against him and has recorded 944 total saves. His save percentage currently sits at .889 in his 95 mins guarding the cage. In his professional hockey career, Merilainen has accumulated 18 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .462.

Their last time out, San Jose squared up with the Sabres in a game where the Sharks went home in defeat by a final of 2-0. They had 3 opportunities on the power play in this game but didn't score a goal. The Sharks scored 0 goals out of the 23 shots on goal they attempted.

San Jose has taken 360 shots (8th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 10.00%, while allowing their opponents 404 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 81.82% on their oppositions 44 power play tries, and their save percentage is currently 89.1%. They have a tally of 44 chances on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 25.00%. The Sharks have accumulated 25 goals at even strength and 11 goals (9th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have granted a total of 44 goals to be scored by way of 36 goals at even strength and 8 goals while they were shorthanded. This season, the San Jose Sharks have earned a total of 36 goals, 13 points, in addition to a points percentage of .500.

Across the ice you are expected to see Yaroslav Askarov in net. Askarov is the owner of a career mark of 29-32-6 and has participated in 71 contests. Askarov's quality start percentage sits at 44.9% and he has made 31 quality starting assignments in his career. He is sitting with 1,789 stops out of 2,013 shots taken against him, which gives him a save % of .889. His opponents are averaging 3.26 goals per contest and he has yielded 225 goals altogether. He has started in 69 games and has played for a total of 163 mins.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Vancouver (+164)

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