Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM PT)
Venue: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Broadcast: MSGSN (Islanders region), NBCSCA (Sharks region), TVAS (Canada), ESPN+ (select markets); check local listings.
The Islanders open a three-game California road trip against a struggling Sharks team looking to end a multi-game skid. Both clubs enter with recent form challenges—New York on a three-game winless stretch (including an OT loss) and San Jose on a five-game losing streak—making this an early-season opportunity for either side to gain traction.
Current Player Rosters
Islanders key players/rotation: Forwards — Bo Horvat, Brayden Schenn, Kyle Palmieri, Simon Holmström, Anthony Duclair, Victor Eklund, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ondřej Palát, Casey Cizikas, and depth options. Defense — Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech, Tony DeAngelo, Logan Stanley, Ryan Pulock (status monitored), Scott Mayfield. Goalies — Ilya Sorokin (primary) and Semyon Varlamov.
Sharks key players/rotation: Forwards — Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa, Tyler Toffoli, Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Ivar Stenberg, Barclay Goodrow, and others. Defense — Jacob Trouba, Dmitry Orlov, Darnell Nurse, Michael Kesselring, Nolan Allan, Sam Dickinson. Goalies — Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic.
Listed Injury Reports
Islanders:
Alexander Romanov (D): Out (ACL).
Mathew Barzal (C): Out/IR (knee); traveling and progressing but not yet returned.
Matias Maccelli (LW): Out/IR (lower body); traveling.
Ryan Pulock (D): Out/IR (upper body); traveling.
Calum Ritchie and others monitored.
Sharks:
Alexander Wennberg (C): Out/IR (upper body); possible near return.
Igor Chernyshov (LW): Out/IR (upper body).
Additional longer-term: Kyle Keyser, Quentin Musty (upper body).
Both teams are dealing with key absences, particularly on defense and skill positions for New York and up the middle for San Jose.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Bo Horvat / Brayden Schenn / Matthew Schaefer vs. Macklin Celebrini / Will Smith / Sharks defense: Islanders’ top scoring and two-way centers/defensemen against San Jose’s young stars and blue-line pairings.
Macklin Celebrini (and supporting young talent) vs. Islanders’ defensive structure and Sorokin: The Sharks’ high-end prospect production testing New York’s structured system and elite goaltending.
Special teams: Islanders’ strong penalty kill vs. Sharks’ power-play opportunities; both clubs have room to improve on the man-advantage.
Goaltending: Ilya Sorokin (strong recent numbers) likely vs. Yaroslav Askarov or Nedeljkovic in a potentially low-to-mid event game.
Recent Team Forms
Islanders (7-6-3): 4-3-3 in last 10 but currently on a three-game winless streak (0-2-1), including a hard-fought OT loss to New Jersey where Sorokin made 45 saves. Solid underlying defensive metrics and faceoff strength; road record is respectable.
Sharks (7-11-1): 3-7-0 in last 10 and on a five-game losing streak. Limited regulation wins overall and inconsistent at home (roughly 3-5-0). Young talent (Celebrini leading the way) provides upside, but defensive and goaltending consistency remain issues.
Series History
First meeting of the 2026-27 season (series tied 0-0). The Islanders have held the recent edge, including sweeping the prior season’s series and a strong overall recent record against San Jose.
Betting Trends
Trends favor the more structured road side in this matchup. Unders often attract interest given both teams’ recent scoring levels and the Islanders’ defensive identity. Public tends to back the favorite (Islanders) given San Jose’s skid.
New York’s defensive structure, elite goaltending from Sorokin, and ability to grind out results should overcome San Jose’s young talent and home ice. The Sharks will generate chances through Celebrini and supporting skill, but consistency issues make a comeback win less likely in regulation. Expect a tight, competitive game that could go down to the wire or OT.
Game Odds
New York Islanders – 138
San Jose Sharks 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Sunday, November 8, 2026
