The Calgary Flames will visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday in a Pacific Division duel between two desperate teams. The Sharks enter this contest trying to snap a four‑game skid on home ice, while the Flames come in needing wins to keep their faint playoff hopes afloat. Before this contest begins in San Jose, continue reading to get my Flames vs Sharks prediction on the ice.
Our Flames vs Sharks Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Calgary Flames vs San Jose Sharks
- Date & Time: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 10:00 PM Eastern
- Venue: SAP Center, San Jose, California
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
The Sharks head into this game trying to stop a four‑game losing streak that has seen them drop five points back of fourth place in the Pacific Division. San Jose’s overall record sits near .500 at 27‑24‑4, but recent results tell a different story of inconsistency and missed opportunities. Meanwhile, the Flames are 23‑27‑6 and have had mixed results of late, posting a 4‑4‑2 mark over their last 10 outings. Both of these teams are playing their first games out of the Olympic break here and will try to get things restarted on the right foot.
Goaltending
In goal, the Sharks will likely lean on Yaroslav Askarov, who has 17 wins this season with a goals‑against average around the mid‑3.00s and a save percentage just under .890. Those numbers reflect an inconsistent season that has seen San Jose give up more high‑quality chances than it would like. The Flames have relied heavily on Dustin Wolf, who has posted a similar sub‑.900 save percentage and a GAA of 3.00. Neither team’s netminder offers elite numbers, and goaltending could be a decisive factor if either side gets stronger performances on Thursday night.
Key skaters
- For the Sharks, Macklin Celebrini has been the engine of the offense with 81 points on the season, powered by 28 goals and 53 assists. Will Smith is also a key figure for the Sharks with 17 goals and 22 assists. Alexander Wennberg adds playmaking depth and consistent work at both ends.
- On the Flames’ side, Nazem Kadri leads the offense with 39 points, while Mikael Backlund and Matthew Coronato provide secondary scoring. Coronato has been effective all season with 14 goals and 15 assists and has shown he can impact games in critical moments.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Calgary is 2-1 against the Sharks so far this season.
- The home team is 3-0 in matchups between Calgary and San Jose this season.
- The Flames are 8-17-2 on the road this year.
- San Jose has a winning record at home at 14-9-3 this year.
Flames vs Sharks Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
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Final Thoughts
