Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, Minnesota
TV/Streaming: NHL Network, Wild+, NBCS California, MINNHL, KSTP
This is the first meeting of the 2026-27 season between the Pacific Division Sharks and the Central Division-leading Wild. Minnesota enters as one of the Western Conference’s strongest teams, while San Jose is fighting through early-season inconsistency on a three-game losing streak.
Current Records and Recent Form
Sharks (7-9-1): 4-4-1 on the road. Coming off a 7-2 loss at Los Angeles on Wednesday. Last 10: 3-6-1. Offense ranks near the bottom (~2.5 goals per game); defense allows ~3.5. Power play sits around 23% (top 10); penalty kill ~81%. Negative goal differential. Young talent is developing but results have been uneven.
Wild (11-3-3): Excellent overall record and strong at home (4-0-1). Point streak recently extended with a 4-2 win at Philadelphia. Last 10: 7-1-2. League-best goals-against average (~2.24); solid offense (~3.3 goals per game). Power play ~25%; penalty kill ~80%. Excellent shot differentials and structure under coach John Hynes.
Minnesota has been dominant when scoring three or more goals. San Jose is searching for consistency after a tough stretch.
Injury Reports
Sharks:
Alexander Wennberg (C) — Upper body; out (IR, possible return soon around Nov. 7).
Igor Chernyshov (LW) — Upper body; out (IR, expected mid-November).
Quentin Musty (LW) — Upper body; out.
Kyle Keyser (G) — Upper body; out.
Wild:
Filip Gustavsson (G) — Hip; out (long-term IR).
Brock Faber (D) — Skull; out (practiced recently, status monitored).
Jared Spurgeon (D) — Lower body; out.
Marcus Foligno (LW) — Lower body; out.
Nick Foligno (LW) — Upper body; out.
Both sides are missing key depth and defensive pieces, but Minnesota’s core remains largely intact offensively.
Current Key Rosters and Projected Elements
Sharks key players: Macklin Celebrini (top scorer, high points production), Will Smith, Ivar Stenberg, Mason Marchment, Tyler Toffoli, Michael Misa, Kiefer Sherwood, Jacob Trouba, Dmitry Orlov, Darnell Nurse. Goalies: Yaroslav Askarov (primary recent starter, ~.887 SV%) and Alex Nedeljkovic. Projected style: Celebrini-centered top lines with skill and secondary scoring from Smith/Stenberg/Marchment groups; mobile but taxed defense.
Wild key players: Kirill Kaprizov (elite production, multi-point streaks), Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek (strong two-way center), Quinn Hughes (high-end defense and offense from the blue line), Blake Coleman, Danila Yurov, Maxim Shabanov. Goalies: Jesper Wallstedt (workhorse, excellent .920 SV% and 2.06 GAA range) and Calvin Pickard. Projected style: Kaprizov-Boldy-Eriksson Ek top line driving play; Hughes anchoring the defense.
Likely goalies: Yaroslav Askarov for San Jose; Jesper Wallstedt for Minnesota (heavy favorite based on recent starts). Confirm after morning skates.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Kirill Kaprizov / Matt Boldy / Joel Eriksson Ek vs. San Jose defense (Trouba, Orlov, Nurse): Minnesota’s top line is on multi-game point streaks and generates high-danger chances. Containing Kaprizov’s speed and shot will be critical for the Sharks’ blue line.
Macklin Celebrini vs. Minnesota defensive structure / Wallstedt: Celebrini is San Jose’s primary offensive engine. Facing a stingy Wild defense and elite goaltending presents a tough test.
Quinn Hughes vs. Sharks forward groups: Hughes’ transition play and point production can tilt possession and special teams.
Special teams battle: Both power plays are effective (Wild slight edge). Penalty kills are solid for both. Faceoffs are relatively even.
Goaltending: Wallstedt’s form and volume give Minnesota a clear edge over Askarov’s numbers.
Series History
First meeting of 2026-27. Recent history has been competitive; San Jose swept or took multiple games in prior seasons, including overtime/shootout decisions, but Minnesota has generally held the upper hand in overall recent matchups and home performance.
Betting Trends
Minnesota strong at home and when scoring first or reaching three goals. Sharks struggling on recent road swings and allowing volume.
Game Odds
San Jose Sharks 6.5
Minnesota Wild – 255
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Thursday, November 5, 2026
