The New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks will face off in an inter-conference clash in the NHL on Friday in Newark. The Devils arrive riding high after a strong start to the season, while the Sharks are still struggling for consistency. Here, I break down this matchup on the ice and give you my Sharks vs Devils prediction for what could be a lopsided game in New Jersey.
Our Sharks vs Devils Pick
- Pick: Devils −1.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: San Jose Sharks vs New Jersey Devils
- Date & Time: Friday, October 24, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent Form
- New Jersey comes in at 6-1-0 after their latest 4-1 home win over the Minnesota Wild. They continue to show elite offensive production and solid defensive discipline.
- San Jose was winless earlier in the season before picking up a 6-5 overtime victory over the New York Rangers in their last game. The question will be whether the Sharks can win on the second night of a back-to-back.
Goaltending
The Devils have faced some injury issues in net with Jacob Markström sidelined. But Jake Allen is 3-0-0 and has helped stabilize things. The Sharks’ goaltending has been under pressure all season long. Both of their goaltenders have GAAs of 4.00 or higher and that needs to change if they are going to get a win here.
Key Skaters
New Jersey’s Jack Hughes has six goals in recent games this season and Jesper Bratt has 11 points, including seven assists. San Jose’s brightest star is Macklin Celebrini, who just posted a five-point night with a hat trick and two assists. The question is whether his breakout can offset the Sharks’ structural weaknesses.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Jack Hughes | Over 0.5 goals |
| Jesper Bratt | Over 0.5 assists |
| Macklin Celebrini | Over 1.5 points |
Betting Trends & H2H
- This is the first of two regular-season meetings between these teams this season.
- New Jersey is 5-2 on the puckline for the season.
- San Jose is 4-3 on the puckline going into this game.
- The Sharks are 5-2 to the over on the year.
- New Jersey is 4-3 to the over for the season.
Sharks vs Devils Model Projection
Score Projection: New Jersey 5 – San Jose 2
Win Probability: New Jersey 72%, San Jose 28%
Final Thoughts
This looks like a mismatch in favor of the Devils. San Jose is unlikely to build on their win over the Rangers last night. I expect the Sharks to struggle defensively on the second night of a back-to-back, especially against a Devils team that is playing some of the best hockey in the league right now. I’ll lay the puckline with New Jersey in a game that could get out of hand in Newark.
