Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Prediction for Thursday October 29 2026
The Vancouver Canucks will be on the road Thursday night for a 10 PM ET matchup against the San Jose Sharks inside SAP Center in San Jose, California. Coverage will be available on ESPN+. Vancouver comes into Thursday as one of the worst teams in the NHL at 3-10-1 overall following an overtime victory against Anaheim last time out, snapping a lengthy losing streak. San Jose is 6-6-1 this season, having dropped three of its last five games, including two in a row. San Jose comes into this matchup as a heavy -185 favorite, while Vancouver is +154, and the total is set at 6.5 goals. Stay in the action with our NHL Picks.
Vancouver desperate to change their year
The Vancouver Canucks offense is averaging 3.07 goals on 20.8 shots per game this season. Defensively, Vancouver has been horrendous, allowing 4.64 goals on 32.8 shots per game, and the Canucks have given up 19 total goals across their last four losses. Elias Pettersson is leading the Vancouver offense this season with 15 points, including a team-high 11 assists. Brock Boeser and Jonathan Lekkerimäki are tied for second on the roster with 12 points each, while Lekkerimäki leads the team with six goals scored. Filip Hronek is third on the team with 10 points this season. Leevi Meriläinen did just enough between the pipes for Vancouver in its last outing, giving up five goals on 23 shots to post a .783 save percentage in just under 63 minutes on the ice, helping the Canucks secure the victory. Jonathan Lekkerimäki led the Vancouver offense with two goals on four shots in just under 20 minutes of ice time. Brock Boeser added one goal and two assists, while Filip Hronek chipped in with one goal and one assist in the game.
Key Injury Report for Vancouver:
- Akil Thomas (IR-NR) – Nov 9
- Mackenzie McaEachern (IR-NR) – Nov 7
- Thatcher Demko (IR) – Dec 21
San Jose looks for the home win
The San Jose Sharks offense has been below average this season, averaging 2.77 goals on 27.7 shots per game, and the Sharks have scored just five total goals across their last three losses. Defensively, San Jose has been just as bad, allowing 3.39 goals on 31.1 shots per game this season. Macklin Celebrini is leading the San Jose offense with 15 points, including five goals and a team-high 10 assists. Ivar Stenberg and Tyler Toffoli are tied for second on the roster with nine points apiece. Jacob Trouba has also contributed with eight points this season.
Yaroslav Askarov was phenomenal between the pipes for San Jose in its last outing, giving up just one goal on 39 shots to post a .974 save percentage in just over 59 minutes on the ice before Buffalo added an empty-net goal. The San Jose offense struggled throughout the game, failing to score on 23 total shots.
Key Injury Report for San Jose:
- Igor Chenyshov (IR) -Nov 14
- Alexander Wennberg (IR) – Nov 9
- Quentin Musty (IR-NR) -Dec 1
- Kyle Keyser (IR-NR) -Dec 1
Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Prediction
Pick: San Jose Sharks -185
San Jose has enough offensive talent to take advantage of Vancouver's defensive weaknesses, especially if the Sharks can establish their speed early in the matchup. Macklin Celebrini should be a significant factor because of his ability to create scoring opportunities and make plays in tight spaces. Will Smith gives San Jose another dangerous offensive option, particularly when the Sharks are able to establish possession and move the puck quickly through the offensive zone. Vancouver will need to avoid defensive breakdowns and limit San Jose's opportunities in transition, but the Canucks could have trouble containing the Sharks if they spend too much time defending. San Jose has also shown the ability to create offense through its younger players, making the Sharks dangerous when they get into a rhythm. Vancouver should have opportunities to score, but San Jose's speed and offensive creativity could ultimately make the difference. Look for the Sharks to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and pick up the victory.
Pick: Over 6.5
Scoring opportunities should be available for both teams Thursday night, particularly with Vancouver and San Jose capable of struggling defensively for extended stretches. The Sharks should generate chances through Celebrini and Smith, while Vancouver has enough offensive talent to take advantage of San Jose's mistakes. Neither team has the defensive consistency to make a low-scoring matchup particularly appealing, especially if the game becomes open through the neutral zone. Vancouver will need to be aggressive offensively to keep pace with San Jose, which could leave the Canucks vulnerable to counterattacks. The Sharks should also find success creating traffic around the net and generating second-chance opportunities. With both teams capable of giving up quality looks, expect several goals throughout the game and a total that finishes over the number.
Final Picks: San Jose Sharks -185 and Over 6.5