In December, the Sharks gave up the tying or winning goal in the final three minutes of the third period four times. It happened most recently against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 21, when the Sharks allowed a tying goal to Mattias Ekholm with 18 seconds left in regulation before losing 3-2 in overtime.

The only thing consistent about the San Jose Sharks in 2025 is their inconsistency. On New Year’s Eve, the San Jose Sharks offered “no desperation” in a 4-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, their eighth-straight loss.

Welcome back to NHL Predictions! Today, like every day, Last Word on Hockey looks at the games happening and gives our predictions for each. We’ll also break down head-to-head matchups and other factors that may play in.

Watch the Game Highlights from New York Islanders vs. San Jose Sharks, 01/18/2025