San Jose Sharks vs Nashville Predators Picks and Predictions March 11th 2025

Predators Shift Focus to League-Worst Sharks Amid Disappointing Season

The Nashville Predators are finally building some momentum, riding a three-game winning streak, but in the grand scheme of things, it might be too little, too late. With only 19 games left in the season, Nashville remains a long shot for the postseason as they prepare for a three-game California road trip, starting with a matchup against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Sitting 15 points out of a playoff spot, the Predators aren’t mathematically eliminated, but it would take an improbable run—and help from other teams—to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. Given their preseason expectations, this season has been a major disappointment, but the team remains determined to finish strong.

“We all want to feel good about ourselves, whether that’s collecting wins or gearing toward something,” Steven Stamkos said after leading Nashville to a 3-2 overtime win over Chicago on Saturday.

“It’s been a tough year … not a position you want to be in, certainly not one that we expected to be in, but you can use that as motivation too.”

The Predators now turn their attention to the league-worst Sharks, a team focused on rebuilding and developing young talent after making several trade deadline moves.

Steven Stamkos Makes History in a Rare Bright Spot for Nashville

Despite the struggles this season, Saturday’s win over Chicago provided a feel-good moment for the Predators.

Steven Stamkos recorded his 14th career hat trick, leading Nashville to an overtime victory while also making NHL history.

His third goal of the night pushed him past Mike Bossy for 23rd place on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list with 576 career goals. He now sits one goal shy of Hall of Famer Mark Recchi.

“There haven’t been a whole lot of things that made us feel really good this season,” head coach Andrew Brunette admitted.

“But to see a guy get a hat trick and pass Mike Bossy at home in an overtime win—those are moments that you always remember.”

With the playoffs out of reach, Nashville will need veterans like Stamkos to help keep the team motivated and set the tone for next season.

Sharks Focus on Young Talent After Trade Deadline Sell-Off

The San Jose Sharks may have the worst record in the NHL, but they’re focused on building for the future.

The team was active at the trade deadline, dealing away multiple key players, including:

• Jake Walman (D)
• Fabian Zetterlund (F)
• Luke Kunin (F)
• Nico Sturm (F)
• Vitek Vanecek (G)

Despite the roster shakeup, San Jose has remained competitive. In Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Islanders, the Sharks came out aggressively, outshooting New York 20-8 in the first period but failing to capitalize on their chances.

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky praised his team’s resilience despite the difficult circumstances.

“You don’t score in the first with that type of volume of chances and shots, you usually feel like it’s going to come the other way,” Warsofsky said.

“I got to give our guys a lot of credit for what they’ve gone through these last couple of days.”

Even with so many veteran departures, San Jose’s future stars are beginning to emerge.

Sharks’ Young Core is Stepping Up

• Macklin Celebrini, the likely Calder Trophy frontrunner, has reached the 20-goal mark and is riding a three-game point streak.
• Will Smith, another top prospect, has been on a point-per-game pace, recording 17 points in his last 17 games.

Veteran forward Barclay Goodrow stressed the importance of playing with pride despite the team’s record.

“On an individual basis, guys have things to prove,” Goodrow said.

“As a team, we believe we are better than our record shows. We have a lot of pride in this room, and we won’t just pack it in. Finishing strong—that’s all we can really do.”

The Sharks are 2-7-3 in their last 12 games, but the development of Celebrini, Smith, and other young players has given fans hope for the future.

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Goalie Matchups & Special Teams Could Be Key

Both teams are likely to rotate goaltenders over the next two games:

• Nashville: Juuse Saros is expected to start against San Jose, while Kevin Lankinen may play in the next game.
• San Jose: With Vitek Vanecek gone, Mackenzie Blackwood and Magnus Chrona are expected to split duties.

Special teams could be a major factor, as both squads have shown inconsistent power plays but strong penalty-killing units:

• Nashville: 28-for-33 on the penalty kill in their last 14 games.
• San Jose: 30-for-35 in their last 15 games.

If neither team can convert on the power play, this could be a low-scoring, grind-it-out game.

Final Thoughts: Can Nashville Keep Rolling?

With both teams out of the playoff picture, this game is more about pride, development, and momentum than standings.

Storylines to Watch

• Can Nashville extend its winning streak?
• Will San Jose’s young stars continue to shine?
• Will Stamkos tie or pass Mark Recchi on the all-time goal list?

While the stakes may not be high, this matchup provides a chance for both teams to finish the season on a positive note.

Will the Predators maintain their momentum, or will the Sharks’ young core pull off an upset on home ice?

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