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San Jose Sharks vs New York Islanders March 8th 2025
Planning on watching today’s Islanders and Sharks game? Catch the action at SAP Center in San Jose, CA, as the Sharks hosts this showdown at 10:00 ET on NBCS. The Islanders come into this non-conference matchup favored by -1.5 goals. The over/under line currently sits at 6 goals.
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New York vs. San Jose Key Information
- Teams: Islanders at Sharks
- Where: SAP Center San Jose
- Date: Saturday, March 8th
- Betting Odds NYI -183 | SJ +154 O/U 6
The Islanders Can Win If…
Following a 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders are now 28-26-7. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, and the combined 7 goals went over that line. The Islanders, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover.
New York fell behind 2-0 before Casey Cizikas scored at 15:22 in the second period. The Islanders added another goal in the second period, but the Rangers pulled away with two more goals in the third.
In their recent 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but managed just two scores. Casey Cizikas netted his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth, with Nelson’s goal coming just 8 seconds before the end of the second period.
The Islanders recorded 23 giveaways and were unable to capitalize on their power play opportunities. Pierre Engvall picked up his first assist of the season on Cizikas’ goal, and Simon Holmstrom added his fourth assist.
Defensively, the Islanders gave up the first goal just 3:44 into the game and allowed two more goals in the 3rd period, including an empty netter at 16:37. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with an 89.7% save percentage.
- Over their last three games, the Islanders have gone 2-1 straight up. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 1-2 in those same games.
- The Islanders have gone 4-6 over their last ten regular season games. Against the spread, New York went 5-5 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-4-1.
The Sharks Can Win If…
San Jose dropped to 17-38-9 with a 3-2 loss to the Canucks. The Sharks held a 1-0 lead at one point, but Vancouver scored with just 26 seconds left to hand San Jose another defeat.
The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 5 fell short. San Jose, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. Nico Sturm and Mikael Granlund were the goal scorers for the Sharks.
San Jose’s offense was held to just two goals in their 3-2 loss to Vancouver. Nico Sturm netted his second goal of the season at 17:23 in the second period, while Mikael Granlund added his sixth goal with 1:17 left in the game.
Granlund took three shots on goal, while Sturm scored on his only attempt. The Sharks fired 23 shots on goal but were hampered by 16 giveaways.
The Sharks’ defense allowed the tying goal at 5:19 in the 2nd period and two more in the 3rd, including the game-winner with just 26 seconds left. Mackenzie Blackwood finished with 25 saves and an 89.3% save percentage, while the defense contributed 6 takeaways and 21 hits.
- Spanning across their last three games, San Jose have gone 2-1. In addition, their puck line record over this stretch is 2-1 while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
- San Jose has put together a record of 2-8 in their last ten games (regular season). This includes going 7-3 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 6-4.
The Lean
If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Sharks to take down the Islanders at home. With the moneyline currently at +154, I’m placing my bet on the Sharks straight-up.
If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Sharks winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Sharks straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.
With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.
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Islanders Begin Life Without Brock Nelson at San Jose
Brock Nelson is gone, but for the New York Islanders, the goal remains the same—fighting for a playoff berth. The Islanders will take the ice without Nelson for the first time in more than a decade when they begin a three-game California road trip against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
End of an Era for the Islanders
New York last played on Tuesday, when Nelson capped his Islanders tenure with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. By Thursday, he had been traded to the Colorado Avalanche for forward prospect Calum Ritchie, defenseman Oliver Kylington, a first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027, and a conditional third-round pick in 2028.
Nelson’s departure marks a significant shift for the Islanders. A 2010 first-round draft pick, he played 901 games with the franchise, ranking fourth all-time in games played and fifth in goals (295). The 33-year-old reached the 20-goal mark for the ninth time this season and was on pace for career highs in faceoff wins (52.8%) and ice time (19:21 per game).
“There’s been a big group in here—we’ve all kind of been through some ups and downs together,” defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “There are a lot of memories there. There’s a lot of special milestones, on and off the ice. We’ve all created some good relationships and some good bonds. When you lose something there, it hurts a little bit.”
Despite the trade, general manager Lou Lamoriello opted to keep veterans Kyle Palmieri, Anders Lee, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, signaling that the team still aims to push for the playoffs. The Islanders sit just four points out of the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
“Everyone in this room’s excited for that challenge,” Palmieri said. “Obviously, the deadline’s behind us. This is the group that we’re going to do it with, and we’re excited.”
Sharks in Full Rebuild Mode
San Jose, sitting last in the NHL with 43 points, made it clear this week that they are building for the future. The Sharks executed multiple trades, acquiring centers Noah Gregor, Zack Ostapchuk, and Carl Berglund while stockpiling draft picks. In return, they sent out defensemen Vincent Desharnais and Jake Walman, centers Luke Kunin and Nico Sturm, wingers Fabian Zetterlund and Patrick Giles, and goaltender Vitek Vanecek.
The team is constructing around young talent, including William Eklund, Macklin Celebrini, and Will Smith—all first-round picks since 2021. Eklund and Celebrini lead the Sharks in points, while Smith ranks seventh. San Jose also traded away Mikael Granlund, their second-leading scorer, last month.
“You can’t just have all Macklin Celebrinis and Will Smiths—you’re not going to win,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. “You need all types of players, all types of characters, to win in this game.”
San Jose’s roster overhaul has left them struggling defensively, as evidenced by their 7-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday to conclude a 2-3-1 road trip. They will now look to establish some stability on home ice.
Islanders vs. Sharks: What to Expect
The Islanders will look to adjust to life without Nelson while continuing their push for the postseason. Meanwhile, the Sharks are focused on evaluating their young core as they play out the remainder of a rebuilding season.
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