NHL Game Preview: San Jose Sharks (27-21-4) vs. Calgary Flames (21-26-6)

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The San Jose Sharks (27-21-4) face the Calgary Flames (21-26-6) in a Pacific Division clash at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Sharks, fifth in the Pacific, are in playoff contention with a potent offense led by rookies but have shown defensive vulnerabilities. The Flames, seventh in the division, are reeling from a five-game losing streak and multiple injuries, struggling to generate consistent scoring. This is their third meeting of the 2025-26 season, with each team winning once: Sharks 6-3 on Dec. 16 and Flames 2-0 on Nov. 13. Expect a gritty, potentially low-scoring game as Calgary fights to snap its skid at home.

Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta

Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. MT, 1:00 p.m. PT)

TV/Streaming: ESPN+, SN, NBCSCA

Recent Team Forms

The Sharks have been inconsistent on the road, while the Flames are in a tailspin.

Sharks (5-4-1 in last 10): San Jose averages 3.2 goals scored and 3.3 allowed recently. They’ve alternated results, with a crushing 4-3 OT loss to Edmonton (Jan. 29) after blowing a 3-0 lead. Wins include 5-2 over Vancouver (Jan. 27) and 3-1 over the Rangers (Jan. 23)

Last 5 Games:

DateOpponentResult
Jan 29@ EDML 3-4 (OT)
Jan 27@ VANW 5-2
Jan 23vs NYRW 3-1
Jan 20@ TBLL 1-4
Jan 19@ FLAW 4-1

Flames (3-5-2 in last 10): Calgary averages 2.0 goals scored and 3.1 allowed, with poor special teams (15% PP recently). They’ve gone 0-3-2 in their last five, including a 4-1 loss to Minnesota (Jan. 29) and 4-3 to Anaheim (Jan. 25)

Last 5 Games:

DateOpponentResult
Jan 29@ MINL 1-4
Jan 25vs ANAL 3-4
Jan 23vs WSHL 1-3
Jan 22@ SEAL 1-2 (OT)
Jan 20vs ARIL 3-4 (SO)

Injury Report

Sharks:

Ty Dellandrea (C, lower body): IR, out indefinitely

Philipp Kurashev (C, upper body): IR, expected back Feb. 4

Shakir Mukhamadullin (D, undisclosed): IR, day-to-day

Kiefer Sherwood (LW, upper body): IR, day-to-day

Flames:

Blake Coleman (LW, upper body): IR, out through Olympic break (Feb. 26)

Samuel Honzek (LW, upper body): Out indefinitely

Jake Bean (D, undisclosed/surgery): Out indefinitely

Zayne Parekh (D, upper body): Out until at least Feb. 2

John Beecher (C, upper body): Out

Projected starters: Alex Nedeljkovic (Sharks, .902 SV%) vs. Dustin Wolf (Flames, .895 SV%)

Key Player Matchups

Macklin Celebrini (Sharks C) vs. Nazem Kadri (Flames C): Celebrini leads the NHL with 27 goals and 79 points, on a hot streak with 4G, 11A in last 10. He’ll face Kadri (9G, 26A, strong faceoffs at 49.3%) in shutdown matchups

Will Smith (Sharks C) vs. Mikael Backlund (Flames C): Smith (15G, 22A) brings speed; Backlund (12G, 20A, +12) excels defensively with shorthanded goals

Tyler Toffoli (Sharks RW) vs. Rasmus Andersson (Flames D): Toffoli (15G, 20A) is a sniper; Andersson (10G, 20A from defense) must limit him while contributing offensively

Goaltending Duel: Alex Nedeljkovic (Sharks) vs. Dustin Wolf (Flames): Nedeljkovic (solid in recent starts) faces Calgary’s low-shot volume; Wolf needs to rebound from allowing 4+ in losses

Projected Lineups

Sharks: Graf-Celebrini-Smith; Regenda-Wennberg-Toffoli; Eklund-Misa-Gaudette; Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Reaves. Defense: Orlov-Klingberg; Ferraro-Liljegren; Sam Dickinson-Desharnais. Goalie: Nedeljkovic.

Flames: Kadri-Backlund-Coronato; Frost-Huberdeau-Klapka; Kuzmenko-Pospisil-Zary; Pelletier-Stenlund-Lomberg. Defense: Andersson-Weegar; Hanley-Brzustewicz; Kuznetsov-Miromanov. Goalie: Wolf.

Series History

Calgary holds the all-time edge: 89-80 overall, including 76-57-8-4 in regular season. However, the Flames are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings, outscoring San Jose 33-23. At Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary is 5-4-1 in the last 10, with recent games averaging 5.8 goals.

Betting Trends

Over/Under: Over has hit in 5 of Sharks’ last 10; Under in 6 of Flames’ last 10. Sharks 1-4 SU in last 5 road games; Flames 0-5 SU in last 5 overall. San Jose 4-1 ATS in last 5 vs. Pacific; Calgary 2-3 ATS in last 5 home games

Game Odds

San Jose Sharks                6.5

Calgary Flames                 – 112

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026