NHL Game Preview: Nashville Predators (11-4-5) vs. San Jose Sharks (9-11-2)

0
6
San Jose Sharks logo

Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET (6:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM CT)
Venue: SAP Center, San Jose, CA

The Predators enter on a seven-game winning streak (looking for eight) as part of a successful road trip, while the Sharks play the second night of a back-to-back after a 6-5 shootout win the previous night. This is the second of three meetings this season; San Jose took the first in a shootout on Oct. 15.

Current Player Rosters / Projected Lineups

Nashville Predators (projected):

Forwards: Steven Stamkos – Ryan O’Reilly – Mavrik Bourque; Filip Forsberg – Shane Wright – Nils Höglander; Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Adam Edstrom; Reid Schaefer – Alex Kerfoot – Vitali Pinchuk.

Defense: Roman Josi – Adam Wilsby; Brady Skjei – Nick Perbix; Daemon Hunt – Jayden Struble.

Goalies: Juuse Saros (projected starter), Justus Annunen.

San Jose Sharks (projected):

Forwards: Ivar Stenberg – Macklin Celebrini – Will Smith; Mason Marchment – Michael Misa – Collin Graf; Tyler Toffoli – Ty Dellandrea – Kiefer Sherwood; Barclay Goodrow – Zack Ostapchuk – Adam Gaudette.

Defense: Available pairs including Dmitry Orlov and others.

Goalies: Alex Nedeljkovic (likely after the previous night’s game) or Yaroslav Askarov.

Listed Injury Reports

Predators:

Jonathan Marchessault (RW/C) — Day-to-day (lower body).

William Trudeau (D) — Out/IR (upper body).

Sharks:

Alexander Wennberg (C) — Day-to-day/Out (upper body; missed recent action).

Igor Chernyshov (LW) — Out/IR (upper body).

Quentin Musty (LW) — Out/IR (upper body).

Kyle Keyser (G) — Out/IR (upper body).

Nashville is relatively healthy aside from Marchessault’s status; San Jose is thinner up front and in goal depth.

Key Player versus Player Matchups

Steven Stamkos / Ryan O’Reilly / Filip Forsberg vs. Sharks defense and Macklin Celebrini line: Nashville’s veteran scoring core against San Jose’s young talent and structure.

Macklin Celebrini / Will Smith / Tyler Toffoli vs. Predators blue line (led by Roman Josi): Celebrini’s skill and the Sharks’ secondary scoring testing Nashville’s defense.

Special teams: Nashville boasts a strong penalty kill and solid power play; San Jose has struggled more in those areas.

Goaltending: Juuse Saros (strong recent form) vs. Alex Nedeljkovic or Askarov on the second night of a back-to-back for the home side.

Nashville’s experience and structure should create advantages, particularly if they limit high-danger chances against Celebrini.

Recent Team Forms

Predators: Riding a seven-game winning streak, including a 3-2 shootout win at Vegas. Strong defensive metrics, excellent penalty kill, and consistent scoring from Stamkos, O’Reilly, Forsberg, and supporting cast. Excellent road form during the current trip.

Sharks: Coming off a 6-5 shootout win and have gone to shootouts in recent games. Showing fight and young talent (Celebrini leading the way), but inconsistent overall with a sub-.500 record and defensive vulnerabilities. Opening a homestand after a five-game skid earlier.

Series History

San Jose leads the season series 1-0 (3-2 shootout win on Oct. 15). Nashville holds a strong all-time edge and has dominated recent meetings in San Jose (5-0-0 in the last five there in some reports). Predators had a long point streak against the Sharks that was snapped earlier.

Betting Trends

Nashville’s streak, superior metrics, and San Jose’s back-to-back status drive the lean.

Nashville’s winning streak, defensive reliability (especially with Saros), and veteran leadership should carry them past a competitive but inconsistent Sharks team playing the second night of a back-to-back. San Jose will generate chances through Celebrini and secondary scoring, but the Predators’ structure and special teams edge favor a solid road win to extend the streak.

Game Odds

Nashville Predators        – 168

San Jose Sharks                6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, November 14, 2026

Previous articleNHL Game Preview: Vancouver Canucks (3-17-1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (13-5-3)
NHL Editor
Profile: A seasoned NHL analyst with a comprehensive understanding of the league’s tactical systems, player‑development pipelines, and organizational strategies. This columnist provides in‑depth coverage that blends film study, advanced metrics, and historical context to explain how teams evolve across an 82‑game season and into the postseason. Background: With extensive experience covering professional hockey, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on roster construction, coaching trends, and league‑wide movement. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term competitive cycles across all NHL markets. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and matchup analysis Film‑based breakdowns of offensive, defensive, and special‑teams systems Player evaluation, draft analysis, and trade‑deadline coverage Salary‑cap strategy, front‑office trends, and organizational philosophy Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex systems and statistical models into insights that resonate with both traditional hockey fans and analytically minded readers. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the NHL’s speed, physicality, and evolving style of play.