The Washington Capitals (16-9-2, 34 points) carry a scorching five-game win streak into the Golden State, aiming to extend their stranglehold atop the Metropolitan Division against a San Jose Sharks squad (13-11-3, 29 points) that’s shown flashes but remains mired in Pacific mediocrity. This interconference tilt at SAP Center pits Washington’s stingy defense (2nd in GA/GP at 2.52) against San Jose’s opportunistic transition game, led by newcomer Tyler Toffoli’s recent heroics (2G-2A in last outing). The Caps, fresh off a gritty 3-1 road win over Los Angeles on Tuesday, look to complete a California sweep, while the Sharks seek revenge after a 6-3 home thumping of Utah on Monday. Puck drop is set for 10:00 p.m. ET at the SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, California—a 17,562-seat fortress where the Sharks boast a 9-4-3 home record but have surrendered 3.45 GA/GP lately. Broadcasts include ESPN+ for national streaming, MNMT for Caps fans, NBCSCA for Sharks supporters, and SiriusXM NHL Radio.
Washington enters as clear favorites amid their 8-1-1 surge since mid-November, outscoring foes 35-13, while San Jose rides a 2-3-0 stretch with a -5 goal differential, exposing goaltending volatility (3.19 GA/GP). The Caps’ power play (15.6%, middling) faces San Jose’s solid PK (81.7%, 12th), but Ovechkin’s one-timer could exploit the Sharks’ depleted blue line. Here’s the comprehensive scouting report.
Team Records and Standings Snapshot
| Team | Record (W-L-OTL) | Points | GF/GP | GA/GP | Home/Away Split | Power Play % | Penalty Kill % |
| Washington Capitals | 16-9-2 | 34 | 3.38 | 2.52 | 9-4-1 Home / 7-5-1 Away | 15.6 (26th) | 71.8 (29th) |
| San Jose Sharks | 13-11-3 | 29 | 2.93 | 3.19 | 9-4-3 Home / 4-7-0 Away | 19.2 (15th) | 81.7 (12th) |
The Capitals tie Carolina for first in the Metro (two games in hand for CAR), boasting a +21 goal differential and league-second GA/GP. San Jose clings to fourth in the Pacific, five points behind Vegas, with home strength (9-4-3) masking road woes (4-7-0, 3.75 GA/GP away). Washington’s 29.7 SF/G overwhelms San Jose’s 24.4, setting up a shot-volume mismatch.
Recent Team Forms
The Caps are a juggernaut, winners of five straight and eight of nine, allowing just 1.3 GA/G last five amid Thompson’s .919 SV%. San Jose’s inconsistency persists—two wins in five but blowouts on both ends— with 3-2-0 at home in November but 1-2 vs. East foes. Caps 4-1 road last five; Sharks 3-2 home.
Washington Capitals Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 2 | @ LAK | W 3-1 | Beauvillier GWG; Thompson 24 saves in 5th straight W, Ovechkin 2A. |
| Nov 30 | @ NYI | W 4-1 | Strome 2G; Caps dominate shots 32-22, extend streak to 4. |
| Nov 28 | vs TOR | W 4-2 | Wilson PP tally; resilient after early deficit, PK 4-for-5. |
| Nov 26 | vs WPG | W 4-3 | Protas 2A; late rally seals 3rd straight, 35 SOG. |
| Nov 24 | vs CBJ | W 5-1 | McMichael hat trick; offensive explosion, Thompson .952 SV%. |
San Jose Sharks Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 1 | vs UTA | W 6-3 | Toffoli 2G-2A; Askarov 28 saves in rout, PP 2-for-4. |
| Nov 29 | @ VGK | L 3-4 | Celebrini goal; Nedeljkovic pulled after 3 GA, outshot 24-21. |
| Nov 28 | vs VAN | W 3-2 | Toffoli GWG; Askarov .941 SV%, kill off late minors. |
| Nov 26 | @ COL | L 0-6 | Shutout woes; Nedeljkovic lit for 6 GA on 42 SA. |
| Nov 23 | vs BOS | W 3-1 | Askarov 35 saves; defensive stand, Celebrini 1G-1A. |
Trend: Caps 4-1 O/U last five (avg. 5.4 goals); Sharks 3-2 over, but under in 7 of 10 home games.
Injury Report
Washington’s depth shines without key pieces, but San Jose’s forward injuries could stall momentum—Skinner and Misa practiced Tuesday and may return, per coach Warsofsky. Blue-line hits hurt the Sharks most.
Washington Capitals Injuries:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Pierre-Luc Dubois | LW | Out (IR) | Abdomen | Mar 9, 2026 |
| Nic Dowd | C | Out (IR) | Upper body (8th straight missed) | Dec 7? |
Impact: Dowd’s bottom-six grit (5 points in 19 GP) missed on PK; Dubois’s absence (0 points in 6 GP) hasn’t slowed top lines—Ovechkin/Wilson/Strome humming at +12 GF/60.
San Jose Sharks Injuries:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Vincent Desharnais | D | Out (IR) | Upper body | Dec 16 |
| Jeff Skinner | LW | Day-to-Day | Lower body (practiced, possible return) | Dec 3? |
| Michael Misa | C | Day-to-Day | Lower body (practiced, possible return) | Dec 3? |
| Alex Wennberg | C | Day-to-Day | Upper body (no practice) | Dec 3? |
Impact: Desharnais’s shutdown role (2 points in 20 GP) gone, overworking Klingberg (team-high 15A); Skinner (7 points in 17 GP) and Misa (3 points in 7 GP) absences drop secondary scoring 0.9 goals/game. Askarov starts (10-6-1, .910 SV%).
Key Player Matchups
Washington’s stars feast on tired defenses, but San Jose’s youth (Celebrini, Toffoli) could spark counters. Fatigue from back-to-back for Caps looms.
Alex Ovechkin (WSH, LW) vs. Mario Ferraro (SJS, D): Ovechkin (18G, chasing Gretzky) rides a 7-game streak (9 points), thriving on PP one-timers vs. Ferraro’s physicality (12 hits/gm, +5). Edge: Ovechkin—his road snipe (10G in 13 away) exploits Sharks’ 19th PK.
Tom Wilson (WSH, RW) vs. Tyler Toffoli (SJS, RW): Wilson (16G, +10) bullies nets with grit, facing Toffoli (12G-10A, hot streak) who’s converted 4 GWG. Edge: Toffoli—his finish (18% S%) tests Thompson’s glove.
Dylan Strome (WSH, C) vs. Macklin Celebrini (SJS, C): Strome (11G-15A, 55% FO) quarterbacks top line; Celebrini (rookie 8G-12A) dazzles with speed. Edge: Strome—veteran poise (1.2 PTS/G) wears down Celebrini’s line.
Goalie Duel: Logan Thompson (WSH) vs. Yaroslav Askarov (SJS): Thompson (12-6-1, .919 SV%, 2.02 GAA) is 5-1-0 in last six; Askarov (10-6-1, .910 SV%, 2.96 GAA) owns 6-2-0 home but .897 vs. East. Edge: Thompson—Caps win 80% when he allows <3 GA.
Watch For: Caps’ third-period surges (7-1-1 when leading after two) vs. Sharks’ home PP (22.5%, 8th at SAP).
Series History
San Jose holds a surprising all-time edge (32-20-1 in 53 regular-season meetings), but Washington has flipped it recently, going 6-3-1 in the last 10 (including a 5-1 road W on Mar. 15, 2025). At SAP Center, Sharks lead 18-9 overall, but Caps won both 2024-25 visits (5-2, 3-1). Average goals: 5.3 per game—under in six of last eight.
| Last 6 Meetings | Date | Result | Venue |
| Mar 15, 2025 | WSH 5-1 SJS | SAP Center | Caps win |
| Dec 3, 2024 | WSH 1-2 SJS (OT) | Capital One | Sharks win |
| Nov 27, 2023 | SJS 1-3 WSH | SAP Center | Caps win |
| Oct 29, 2023 | WSH 3-1 SJS | Capital One | Caps win |
| Mar 4, 2023 | SJS 3-8 WSH | SAP Center | Caps win |
| Feb 12, 2023 | WSH 1-4 SJS | Capital One | Sharks win |
Trend: Last five games under 5.5 (avg. 4.6 goals); Caps 4-1 SU vs. SJS since 2023.
Betting Trends
Key Trends:
Caps 9-3 SU as road faves; 7-2 when scoring 3+ away.
Sharks 6-4 SU at home but 2-3 vs. Metro; 4-1 under last five home.
Under 7-3 in last 10 Caps games; Sharks 5-3-2 O/U overall.
Game Odds
Washington Capitals – 155
San Jose Sharks 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, December 2, 2025
