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Sharks vs Ducks Picks and Predictions – Monday December 29, 2025
San Jose heads down to the Honda Center for a Monday night matchup with Anaheim at 10:00 PM on NBCS. The Sharks come in 18-17-3 and sitting mid-pack in the West, while the Ducks are 21-15-2 and tracking as one of the steadier Pacific teams.
This is the kind of price that forces a real question: are you laying close to -200 because Anaheim is clearly better, or because the market is reacting to San Jose’s volatility and defensive swings? With both teams showing an over-friendly profile lately, the total matters just as much as the side.
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim is favored at home and the moneyline is doing most of the talking. If you are tracking movement through updated NHL odds, keep an eye on any late goalie news because that can swing both the side and the total quickly.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Sharks | +163 | Varies | 6.5 |
| Anaheim Ducks | -197 | Varies | 6.5 |
San Jose Sharks Betting Form
San Jose just put up a 6-3 win over Vancouver, and that game showed the Sharks’ best path: play fast, generate volume, and let the power play tilt the math. Macklin Celebrini drove the attack again, and when the Sharks are getting eight-shot nights from their top-end creator, they can outscore mistakes.
The power play is the headline. San Jose has cashed 24 power-play goals and sits top-10 in conversion, which keeps them live even when 5v5 play gets messy. They also bring enough physical push to survive long stretches in their own zone, sitting around the middle of the league in hits and blocks, which matters when you are trying to steal a road game as a plus-money dog.
Before betting it, check the San Jose Sharks injury report. For matchup context and recent form, you can pull up San Jose Sharks stats and results and track how often their scoring spikes have been followed by defensive drop-offs.
Anaheim Ducks Betting Form
Anaheim is trying to shake off a 6-1 loss to the Kings, but the overall profile still grades as a strong home favorite more often than not. The Ducks have 126 goals on the season, top tier production, and they can get to four without needing a perfect game script.
The key with Anaheim is whether their offense is arriving from the inside or living on highlight looks. When the Ducks are generating clean slot chances and stacking power-play minutes, they look like a team that should be priced in this range. When they are settling, they become a favorite that is vulnerable to the back door on the puck line, and that trend has shown up when they have been asked to cover as chalk.
Check the Anaheim Ducks injury report before you finalize anything, especially with Leo Carlsson listed as probable. You can also review Anaheim Ducks schedule and stats to see how they have handled similar price ranges at home and how often their wins have been multi-goal.
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks Matchup Breakdown
The environment is straightforward: standard NHL ice at the Honda Center, no altitude, and a short in-state trip for San Jose. That removes a lot of the travel excuses and puts the handicap back on matchup edges: 5v5 shot quality, special teams, and goaltending performance.
At 5v5, this sets up as a volume-versus-finish game. San Jose can absolutely create looks when they are aggressive off the rush, but Anaheim’s best version can turn that into counter chances and quick-strike goals. If the Ducks control the middle of the ice, you will see San Jose’s offense shift to the perimeter, and that is when the Sharks start needing the power play to keep pace.
Special teams is the swing point. San Jose’s power play is the one clear unit advantage they bring, and Anaheim cannot afford sloppy stick penalties if they want to justify the moneyline price. On the other side, if Anaheim draws calls and gets extended zone time, the Sharks’ penalty-kill workload can become a problem in the second and third periods.
Goalie status matters here, and it is not something to guess. If Yaroslav Askarov gets the start for San Jose, the Sharks have a realistic chance to survive long stretches and keep the total from getting away. If either team goes to a backup or a fatigued starter, the over becomes more attractive fast. If you want a quick refresher on how goalie confirmation and price movement should influence your wagers, the NHL betting guide is worth using as a checklist.
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks Predictions and Best Bets
The market is telling you Anaheim is the more reliable team, and that tracks with the season resumes and home edge. The Ducks’ offense has been consistently productive, and San Jose’s defensive profile is still the kind that can turn one bad five-minute stretch into a two-goal hole.
Where the bet gets tricky is price versus volatility. San Jose’s power play gives them real upset equity, and the Sharks have also been playing higher-event hockey lately. That is why I do not love laying -197 if you expect a wide scoring range. You are paying for Anaheim’s stability, but you are also absorbing the Sharks’ ability to flip a game with special teams.
On the total, I lean under 6.5 if the expected starters are in net and Anaheim plays a cleaner game after getting embarrassed last time out. If goalie news breaks the other way, I would pivot quickly, because both teams have shown they can drag totals upward with pace and penalties.
Best Bet: Anaheim Ducks moneyline (-197)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are building a card around this game, start by comparing how different bettors are attacking the slate on the NHL picks page. It is also smart to see which cappers are actually converting long-term before you tail anyone, and the best handicappers section makes that easy.
For a quick snapshot of who is hottest right now, the handicappers leaderboard is the cleanest filter. If you want full-game packages instead of one-off plays, you can also look at buy picks and browse more matchup writeups in the NHL previews hub. And if you are already thinking bigger picture futures and timing, the Stanley Cup betting guide is a solid framework for when to shop positions and when to wait.
