The San Jose Sharks (12-11-3), buoyed by a gritty 3-2 overtime victory over Vancouver on Nov. 26 but mired in inconsistency with just one regulation win in their last seven, host the Utah Mammoth (12-11-3) on Monday night at SAP Center. This Pacific Division showdown features two evenly matched squads battling for positioning in the West’s middle pack: Utah’s potent power play (6th in the NHL with 18 PPG) against San Jose’s opportunistic rush game led by rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini. The Mammoth, fresh off a 3-2 upset win over the Rangers on Nov. 29 to snap a four-game skid, aim to build momentum on the road (7-5-1), while the Sharks leverage their home-ice edge (5-6-2) where they’ve covered the puck line in 60% of games. With both teams hovering around .500 and injuries thinning depth, this could devolve into a high-variance, special-teams affair—Utah’s 13.7% PP efficiency vs. San Jose’s middling 78.5% PK. Faceoff is at 10:00 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN+ with local coverage on NBC Sports California and FanDuel Sports Network Intermountain (FDSINT).
Venue Location
Arena: SAP Center at San Jose
Address: 525 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Capacity: 17,562 for hockey
Notable Features: Home to the Sharks since 1993 (formerly San Jose Arena), this downtown staple boasts a tech-savvy vibe with LED ribbon boards and the Thunderdome fan section fueling energy, though San Jose’s middling home record (5-6-2) has led to attendance dips (avg. 14,200). Premium perks include the VTA Club and proximity to San Pedro Street Square for pre-game bites. Caltrain (Diridon Station) or VTA Light Rail is ideal; parking in the adjacent garage runs $30+ amid post-game Silicon Valley traffic.
Puckdrop: 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT)
Duration: Standard NHL game (60 minutes), plus potential overtime/shootout; roughly 2.5 hours including intermissions and TV timeouts.
Injury Report
Injuries have impacted both rosters, with Utah’s absences hitting the blue line and San Jose’s forward group, forcing depth players into key roles. Latest updates as of game day (monitor NHL.com for changes):
Utah Mammoth:
| Player | Position | Injury | Status | Expected Return |
| Olli Maatta | D | Upper body | Out | Re-evaluation in 1-2 weeks (mid-December) |
| Alexander Kerfoot | C | Lower body | Out | Indefinite (late December) |
Impact: Maatta’s absence (veteran D with 5G-8A pre-injury) strains Utah’s pairings, dropping their Corsi to 48.2% without him (22nd); Kerfoot’s faceoff prowess (52% win rate) is missed on the third line, where the Mammoth rank 24th in even-strength goals (2.1 GPG sans depth).
San Jose Sharks:
| Player | Position | Injury | Status | Expected Return |
| Michael Misa | C | Lower body | Out | Re-evaluation in 7-10 days (mid-December) |
| Jeff Skinner | LW | Lower body | Out | At least one week (mid-December) |
Impact: Misa’s rookie promise (7G-5A) leaves a void in bottom-six scoring (Sharks 27th in bench GPG at 0.7), while Skinner’s veteran touch (8G pre-injury) hampers the top line; San Jose’s offense dips to 2.4 GPG without him, exposing their 23rd-ranked GA (3.2).
Player Matchups
Both teams emphasize transition play (Utah 12th in rush chances, San Jose 18th), but Utah’s shot volume (28th in SOG at 24.2) tests San Jose’s rebound control. Key duels:
C: Logan Cooley (UTA) vs. Macklin Celebrini (SJS)
Cooley (6’0″, 9G-12A, playmaker) vs. Celebrini (6’0″, 11G-10A, Calder frontrunner). Cooley’s vision (top-15 in primary assists) exploits Celebrini’s occasional turnovers (1.2 per game), but the rookie’s hat-trick potential (second this season) tilts rushes. Edge: Sharks.
LW: Clayton Keller (UTA) vs. Fabian Zetterlund (SJS)
Keller (6’3″, 12G-15A, +5) vs. Zetterlund (6’1″, 10G-8A). Keller’s mid-range game (15% shooting) overwhelms Zetterlund’s positioning (SJS allows 1.8 rush goals, 22nd); Mammoth’s PP feeds off his setup. Edge: Mammoth.
RW: Nick Schmaltz (UTA) vs. Will Smith (SJS)
Schmaltz (6’0″, 10G-11A, hat-trick threat) vs. Smith (6’0″, 8G-9A, rookie wizard). Schmaltz’s finishing (3G last vs. SJS) clashes with Smith’s creativity (top-10 in assists among rookies); Sharks’ PK limits wingers to 0.9 GPG. Edge: Even.
D: Sean Durzi (UTA) vs. Jake Walman (SJS)
Durzi (6’0″, 6G-10A) vs. Walman (6’2″, 4G-12A). Durzi’s mobility (plus-6) challenges Walman’s shot-blocking (2.1 per game); Utah out-chances opponents 51% with him. Edge: Mammoth.
G: Karel Vejmelka (UTA) vs. Yaroslav Askarov (SJS)
Vejmelka (6’3″, .910 SV%, 2.85 GAA) vs. Askarov (6’2″, .905 SV%, 3.10 GAA, 24 saves last win). Vejmelka’s positioning faces San Jose’s 28.4 SOG; Askarov’s youth shines in OT but rebounds leak (18th in high-danger). Edge: Mammoth.
Bench Impact: Utah’s depth (Schmaltz line: 25 PTS last 10) edges San Jose’s injury-hit reserves, in a mid-pace affair (Sharks 16th at 99.5 possessions)
.Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away | Division | Streak |
| Utah Mammoth | 12-11-3 (.518) | 7-5-1 away | 8th Pacific | W1 |
| San Jose Sharks | 12-11-3 (.518) | 5-6-2 home | 9th Pacific | W1 (OT) |
Mammoth: 10th in West (27 points); -0.1 goal differential. 15th in goals (3.0 GPG), 15th in GA (3.0).
Sharks: 11th in West (27 points); -0.4 goal differential. 24th in goals (2.8 GPG), 23rd in GA (3.2).
Recent Team Forms
Utah Mammoth:
Utah’s November was a grind, with a 3-4-3 mark highlighted by a 3-2 W over the Rangers (Nov. 29, DeSimone tiebreaker) to end a four-game road skid, but including a blown third-period lead in a 3-2 OT L to San Jose (Nov. 18, Celebrini hat trick). Other: 6-3 W vs. Sharks (Oct. 17, Schmaltz 3G-1A) but OT losses to Vegas (Nov. 26) and Edmonton (Nov. 24). Offense potent (3.0 GPG, 15th; 13.7% PP, 31st? Wait, 6th in PPG at 18), with 628 SOG (28th) but elite power-play goals (18, 6th). Defense middling (3.0 GA, 15th; 79 goals allowed, 15th), with 741 saves (faced high volume). Road form: 7-5-1, >3 GA in 6/13. Pace: 20th (98.8 possessions).
San Jose Sharks:
San Jose’s inconsistency lingers with 4-5-1 in November, capped by a 3-2 OT W over Vancouver (Nov. 26, Celebrini GWG) but including a 6-3 L to Utah (Oct. 17) and 4-1 L to Seattle (Nov. 23). Wins: 3-2 OT vs. Utah (Nov. 18) and 5-4 vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 21). Offense middling (2.8 GPG, 24th; 73 goals, 24th), led by Celebrini’s 21 PTS, but 73 SOG allowed (23rd in GA at 3.2). Defense leaky (3.2 GA, 23rd; 83 goals against), with Askarov’s 24 saves in OT win. Home form: 5-6-2, <3 GA in 5/13. Pace: 16th (99.5 possessions).
Series History
San Jose holds a slight historical edge in this nascent Pacific rivalry (Utah as ex-Arizona), but Utah flipped the script in 2025-26 with a split. All-Time Regular Season: Sharks lead 4-3 (57.1% win rate over 7 games since Utah’s rebrand).
Playoffs: None.
Last 10 Meetings: N/A (fewer than 10; Sharks 3-1 SU in last 4, but Utah 6-3 W on Oct. 17). Average score: 4.1-3.4 (Overs in 6/7).
In San Jose: Sharks 2-1 since 2022. Trends: 70% of meetings over 6.5 goals; Utah 2-1 ATS last 3.
Betting Trends:
Key Trends:
Mammoth: 7-8 as favorites; 4-2 at -160 or shorter. 10-6-3 ATS overall, 7-5-1 road; Over in 13/26 (50%).
Sharks: 12-14 as underdogs; 9-11 at +132 or longer. 12-11-3 ATS, 5-6-2 home; Under in 14/26 (54%).
Head-to-Head: Overs 70%; Mammoth 2-1 SU last 3, 2-1 ATS.
Game Odds
Utah Mammoth – 162
San Jose Sharks 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, November 30, 2025
