Utah Hockey Club vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions January 10th 2025

Utah and Sharks Battle to Overcome Struggles in Salt Lake City

The Utah Hockey Club and San Jose Sharks face off on Friday night in Salt Lake City, each team desperate to reverse its fortunes in what has been a challenging season. With both teams stuck in slumps, this game offers an opportunity for one side to gain much-needed momentum.

Utah Strives to Regain Offense and Home Dominance

Utah (1-5-2 in its last eight games) has seen its playoff hopes waver after a promising start to the season. Just a few points out of a playoff position at the holiday break, Utah now finds itself five points off the pace midway through the season.

A lack of offensive production has been the primary culprit during this skid. The team has scored two or fewer goals in seven of its last nine games, including a 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday to open a critical seven-game homestand.

Head coach Andre Tourigny identified the need for better connectivity on offense:

“Offensively, we need to be more connected. We did not have the same speed, rhythm, or puck movement,” Tourigny said after Wednesday’s game.

Utah’s Logan Cooley remains optimistic, emphasizing the team’s competitive spirit against strong opponents like Florida and Dallas:

“The goals are going to start to come. We’ve just got to stay positive and take the positives out of it,” Cooley said.

In addition to scoring woes, Utah has struggled to assert itself at home, with a 5-8-4 record on its own ice, including four straight losses. Friday’s game is a pivotal opportunity to reestablish dominance at home and climb back into the playoff race.

Sharks Seek Rebuild Progress

San Jose (3-11-1 in its last 15 games) continues to navigate a difficult rebuild. The Sharks have won just two of their last 11 games and are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, where they fell behind early and struggled to recover.

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky criticized his team’s lack of physicality and execution:

“Our puck play was soft. We didn’t execute. We were soft to play against, especially in front of our net,” Warsofsky said.

Despite the defeat, there were positives for San Jose. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev delivered his best performance since joining the team, stopping 38 shots. Additionally, the Sharks scored both of their goals on the power play, an area that has been inconsistent this season.

Defenseman Timothy Liljegren ended a 15-game goal drought with a power-play tally, noting the importance of generating offense:

“We needed to produce. It hasn’t been good enough, so it was good getting goals from that,” Liljegren said.

Key Matchup: Utah’s Offense vs. San Jose’s Defense

Utah’s ability to solve its scoring issues will be tested against a Sharks defense that has struggled with consistency. Forwards like Cooley will need to capitalize on opportunities and push the pace offensively.

San Jose, on the other hand, will rely on Georgiev’s goaltending and its improved power play to keep Utah at bay. Establishing a strong start, as Warsofsky emphasized, will be critical for the Sharks to avoid falling behind early.

NHL Conference Odds and Predictions for the Season

High Stakes for Both Teams

Friday’s game represents a crucial chance for both teams to change the trajectory of their seasons. For Utah, it’s an opportunity to rebuild confidence at home and reignite their playoff push. For San Jose, it’s a chance to show progress in their rebuild and gain momentum on the road.

With both teams hungry for a win, fans can expect a gritty, hard-fought battle in Salt Lake City as Utah and San Jose seek to leave their struggles behind.