San Jose Sharks vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions March 20th 2025

Carolina Aims for Eighth Straight Victory in San Jose

The Carolina Hurricanes (41-22-4, 86 points) head to San Jose to take on the Sharks (18-41-9, 45 points) on Thursday, looking to extend their winning streak to eight games. Despite their dominance at home, Carolina has struggled on the road with a 14-15-3 away record, a factor they hope to improve as they push toward the playoffs.

The Hurricanes have pulled six points ahead of the New Jersey Devils for second place in the Metropolitan Division and are coming off a commanding 5-0 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. That win marked the start of a four-game road trip, and Carolina is eager to maintain momentum.

“Generally, time off is not what you want when you’re going good. You want to keep rolling,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “But I think in the long term, we’ve got a real crazy month of hockey left, so it’s a good mental break for what’s coming up.”

Injury Updates for Carolina

The short break between games has allowed some injured Hurricanes to make progress. Dmitry Orlov (upper-body injury) practiced on Wednesday and could return after missing five games. However, Andrei Svechnikov (upper-body injury) remains questionable and may miss his fourth consecutive game.

Hurricanes’ Key Players to Watch

• Sebastian Aho: The team’s leading scorer with 28 goals and 62 points.
• Brent Burns: Playing in his 911th consecutive game, the fifth-longest ironman streak in NHL history.
• Frederik Andersen: Expected to start in goal, while Pyotr Kochetkov remains in rotation after a 26-save shutout against Philadelphia.

Sharks Aim to Spoil the Hurricanes’ Streak

The San Jose Sharks have struggled mightily this season, sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings. They are 1-4-0 in their last five games and most recently fell 5-1 to the Washington Capitals. Despite the challenges, the team remains focused on development and giving new players opportunities.

Rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini has been a rare bright spot for San Jose, leading the team with 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists). The Sharks are also expected to debut defenseman Luca Cagnoni, a 2023 fourth-round draft pick, who has impressed in the AHL with 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 56 games.

“(Cagnoni’s) tool set is something that we don’t have a lot of, in the sense of being a puck-moving defenseman, running a power play, bringing some offense to our group,” said Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky.

Goalie Matchup

Georgi Romanov is expected to make his first NHL start for the Sharks after making three relief appearances over the past two seasons. In contrast, the Hurricanes are likely to start Frederik Andersen, who has been alternating with Pyotr Kochetkov for the past two months.

Recent History and Matchup Trends

• The Hurricanes are 7-0-1 in their last eight meetings with the Sharks, including a 3-2 win in Raleigh on December 10.
• San Jose has lost four of its last five games and continues to rebuild with young talent.
• Carolina looks to solidify its playoff positioning with a strong road performance.

Ice-Cold Profits Await

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Betting Insights and Playoff Picture

• The Hurricanes remain hot in the Metropolitan Division race, looking to close the gap on the New Jersey Devils.
• San Jose is at the bottom of the Western Conference and looking to rebuild for next season.
• Stanley Cup Odds, NHL Conference Winner Odds, and NHL Metropolitan Division Odds are shifting as the postseason approaches.

For the latest Pick, Team, and Odds insights, visit our Expert Betting Guide to get the most accurate predictions and betting strategies.

Final Thoughts

Can the Hurricanes maintain their winning ways on the road, or will the Sharks surprise and snap Carolina’s streak? With playoff implications for the Hurricanes and pride on the line for San Jose, expect an intense clash at the SAP Center.