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The San Jose Sharks hit the road to face the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, with a 10:00 PM start time on NBCS. San Jose is 17-16-3 and trying to climb in the Western Pacific picture, while Vegas sits 16-8-10 and second in the division.
Vegas comes in off its first back-to-back regulation losses of the season and a three-game skid overall, so this is a clear get-right spot before the league breaks. San Jose has dropped two straight and is starting a road trip that runs through the holiday, which makes this a tricky scheduling spot against a team that will want a sharper start at home.
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San Jose Sharks vs Vegas Golden Knights Odds
These are the current betting lines for this matchup, and bettors should always monitor updated NHL odds as prices can move quickly leading up to puck drop. For line shopping and market updates, check the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Sharks | +200 | Not listed | 6.0 (Under -116) |
| Vegas Golden Knights | -242 | Not listed | 6.0 (Under -116) |
San Jose Sharks Betting Form
San Jose has been competitive most nights, but the margin is thin when they are not protecting the middle of the ice late. They just lost 4-2 to Seattle after leading early in the third, and that kind of closeout issue matters more on the road against a veteran opponent that can turn a single breakdown into two goals in a hurry. Offensively, San Jose has shown enough to threaten, and Macklin Celebrini drives a lot of the creation and finishing, which is why the plus price is at least worth a second look if you think Vegas continues its slow-start habit.
The problem is that this roster is stretched, and that impacts both game script and totals. If the Sharks are forced into too many defensive-zone shifts, they tend to chase, take penalties, and rely on their goalie to bail them out. Availability matters here, so monitor the San Jose Sharks injury report before puck drop.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Logan Couture (C) | Out | Hip |
| Vincent Desharnais (D) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Ryan Ellis (D) | Out | Back |
| Collin Graf (RW) | Questionable | Face |
| Philipp Kurashev (C) | Out | Upper Body |
| Timothy Liljegren (D) | Out | Upper Body |
| Michael Misa (C) | Out | Not Injury Related |
| Carey Price (G) | Out | Knee |
| Will Smith (C) | Out | Upper Body |
Vegas Golden Knights Betting Form
Vegas is still in a strong position in the division, but the last two games exposed the one issue they cannot carry into this homestand: getting behind early. They trailed badly in both Calgary and Edmonton, then spent the third period trying to erase the first 40 minutes. That profile matters for betting because Vegas plays best when it dictates pace, rolls four lines, and turns the game into a territorial grind that keeps the opponent from building confidence.
The other key piece is health, especially in goal and down the middle. If Adin Hill remains out, and if Jack Eichel is limited or unavailable, the moneyline price becomes harder to justify and the total becomes more sensitive to the starting goalie. Keep an eye on the Vegas Golden Knights injury report as lineups lock in.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Jakub Demek (C) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Jack Eichel (C) | Questionable | Illness |
| Adin Hill (G) | Out | Lower Body |
| William Karlsson (C) | Out | Lower Body |
| Alex Pietrangelo (D) | Out | Personal Reasons |
| Shea Theodore (D) | Questionable | Upper Body |
San Jose Sharks vs Vegas Golden Knights Matchup Breakdown
This matchup usually tilts toward Vegas because they can win the puck battle, draw penalties, and force San Jose to defend in layers. Even when the score is close, Vegas tends to own the higher-quality looks, and that has been a consistent theme in this series. The twist this season is that both meetings finished 4-3, so the Sharks have at least shown they can stay connected if they keep their structure.
Special teams sit near the center of the handicap. Vegas has a power play that can flip a game quickly, and San Jose cannot afford a sloppy penalty profile, especially on the road. If the Sharks play from behind, the game opens up and the total gets more volatile. If Vegas gets the lead, they can squeeze the neutral zone and turn this into a lower-event finish.
Goaltending is the swing factor, and it may not be fully confirmed until closer to puck drop. If Vegas is still sorting out its crease, and San Jose is leaning heavily on its starter, that pushes the handicap away from big puck-line ideas and more toward a moneyline or total position. For a cleaner framework on how to weigh game state, special teams, and goalie uncertainty, the NHL betting guide is a useful reference. If you are also thinking about how this pre-break stretch ties into futures positioning, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps connect team profiles to long-range pricing.
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San Jose Sharks vs Vegas Golden Knights Predictions and Best Bets
Vegas is the right side on paper, but the price is heavy at -242, and the recent slow starts are not a small issue. The best case for laying the moneyline is that this is a focused home bounce-back spot against a divisional opponent Vegas has historically handled, with extra urgency because the break is next.
San Jose’s case is that they can score enough to keep it uncomfortable if they stay out of the box and get strong goaltending. The issue is that their injury list takes away lineup flexibility, and that makes it harder to survive long defensive stretches when Vegas gets rolling.
The total at 6.0 is where the best value shows up. Vegas has every incentive to clean up its early-game mistakes and play a more controlled game at home. If San Jose is missing key contributors and has to manufacture offense in a tougher road environment, it becomes harder for them to do their share of the scoring needed to push this game comfortably past six.
Best Bet: Under 6.0 (-116).
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