Golden Knights vs. Sharks: Can San Jose Pull Off an Upset?

It’s game day, and we’ve got a Pacific Division clash brewing! The San Jose Sharks are looking to keep their mini win streak alive as they face the NHL’s top dogs, the Vegas Golden Knights, on Tuesday night. For the Sharks, this could be their third straight win—a rare feat this season. For Vegas, it’s just another chance to flex their dominance.

The Sharks Are Finally Finding Their Groove

Let’s be real: this hasn’t been the Sharks’ season. They’re stuck at the bottom of the division with just 32 points, but lately, they’ve been showing some fight.

Back-to-Back Wins: San Jose has taken down two solid teams, Tampa Bay and New Jersey, in tight home games.
Cody Ceci’s Heroics: His buzzer-beater goal with just 25 seconds left sealed the deal against the Devils. Talk about clutch!
Emerging Stars: Rookie Macklin Celebrini and goalie Yaroslav Askarov are starting to shine. Celebrini scored a beauty last game, and Askarov held it down with 28 saves.

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky seems pretty pumped about his team’s recent efforts:

“We’re starting to see the results of playing our way. It’s great to see the guys rewarded for the hard work.”

It’s clear this team is finding their identity, even if they’re still a work in progress.

Vegas Is Just That Good

If the Sharks are finding their groove, the Golden Knights have been living in it all season long. They’re at the top of the NHL with 57 points and a ridiculous record of 16-3-1 over their last 20 games. Oh, and they’ve been absolutely wrecking the Sharks for years.

Unbeaten in San Jose: Vegas has never lost in regulation in 16 games at the Shark Tank. Yup, you read that right—13 wins and 3 overtime losses.
Big Names, Big Plays:
- Mark Stone hit his 600th career point in their latest win over Buffalo.
- Jack Eichel is on fire with 18 multi-point games this season.
Defense + Offense = Elite: They’ve allowed two or fewer goals in 14 of their last 20 games while still scoring 3-4 goals a night. That’s what you call balance.

Stone summed it up perfectly after their last win:

“We’re playing better defensively now, and it’s setting up our offense. We’re scoring goals, but we’re also shutting teams down.”

This team is a machine.

Why This Matchup Matters

The Sharks and Golden Knights have already faced off twice this season, and let’s just say it didn’t go well for San Jose. Vegas won big both times, 7-3 and 6-3. So, what makes this game different?

What Vegas Brings to the Table:

Confidence. They expect to win every game—and usually do.
A killer record against Western Conference teams (21-3-2).
A stacked lineup that knows how to deliver under pressure.

Why San Jose Could Shock Us:

Momentum. Those back-to-back wins over strong teams could fuel some serious confidence.
Home ice. Sure, Vegas has dominated here before, but streaks are made to be broken, right?
Young energy. Celebrini, Askarov, and the crew are hungry to prove themselves.

What to Watch For Tonight

This game is a classic David vs. Goliath story. On paper, Vegas should roll over San Jose like they’ve done so many times before. But hockey’s unpredictable, and the Sharks are playing with nothing to lose—and that makes them dangerous.

Vegas is the favorite for a reason, but don’t sleep on the Sharks’ growing swagger. If San Jose can keep it close, maybe they’ll give their fans a reason to believe in this team’s future.

The Bottom Line

Golden Knights fans are expecting another win. Sharks fans? They’re hoping for a miracle. Either way, this game is shaping up to be an entertaining showdown.

Who’s your pick? Will Vegas continue their reign, or will San Jose prove they’ve got more bite than bark? Let’s drop the puck and find out!

San Jose Sharks vs Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Predictions January 7th 2025