San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks Picks and Predictions for Monday, December 29, 2025
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San Jose and Anaheim wrap the night at the Honda Center in a Pacific Division matchup that profiles as a high-event game. The Ducks are the stronger team in the standings and they’ve been better at home, but San Jose has enough scoring punch up top to keep this one uncomfortable if Anaheim gets loose defensively. With the total sitting at 6.5, the market is basically telling us to expect chances, power plays, and at least one momentum swing. For all the NHL action you will want to make sure you check out our free NHL Picks.
Game Overview
The Sharks enter 18-17-3 overall and 8-10-0 on the road. Anaheim comes in 21-15-2 overall and 12-6-0 at home. The Ducks are a sizable favorite (around -205 on the moneyline) with San Jose priced near +170, and the total is 6.5.
San Jose Sharks Breakdown
San Jose’s numbers scream “risk-reward.” They’re scoring 3.00 goals per game, but they’re giving up 3.45, and the shot metrics are a big part of that story: 25.3 shots for and 31.3 shots against. That’s a tough way to live, because even when the Sharks finish well, they’re still letting opponents pile up volume and extended zone time.
The one thing that keeps them live in a game like this is that they do have firepower and a power play that can convert (24 PP goals, 18.2%). And they’ve shown they can pop goals in bunches recently—San Jose just beat Vancouver 6-3, and they also dropped 6 on Calgary in their last five. The problem is the floor is low too, and we saw that in the 7-2 loss at Vegas and a few multi-goal defeats mixed in.
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Anaheim Ducks Breakdown
Anaheim’s profile is a little more “fun” than you’d expect from a big favorite. The Ducks are scoring 3.32 goals per game, but they’re allowing 3.47, so they’re winning more with offence and pace than with shutdown defense. Shot volume leans Anaheim: 30.7 shots for and 28.8 against. They’re generating chances consistently, especially at home where they’ve been strong (12-6-0).
Special teams are more middling: 21 power-play goals (17.1%), and the penalty kill has been vulnerable (75.4%). That matters here because San Jose can absolutely get back into games via the man advantage if Anaheim takes a couple of careless penalties.
Recent form is shaky for the Ducks—losses to the Kings (6-1), Kraken (3-1), and Stars (8-3) jump off the page. Even in their win over Columbus (4-3), they still gave up three. So yes, Anaheim is the better team overall, but they’ve been giving opponents plenty of oxygen lately.
Betting Matchup and Key Angles
This matchup sets up like a classic “favorite wins, but the game gets messy” spot. Anaheim’s shot generation and home record justify the moneyline price, but both teams are allowing a lot of goals, and neither penalty kill is the kind you trust to keep this clean for 60 minutes. With San Jose’s shot-against number so high, the Ducks should have sustained pressure, yet Anaheim’s own defensive results invite the kind of back-and-forth game that pushes totals.
Best Picks and Predictions
I’m taking Over 6.5. Anaheim games have been track meets lately (they’ve been giving up big totals), and San Jose is perfectly happy to trade chances because they don’t consistently control shots at five-on-five. Add in the fact that both teams have enough power-play ability to add “cheap” goals, and 6.5 feels playable even if one side cools off for a stretch. Check out all the sportsbook promos to see if you are getting a great deal on your bets on the Ducks. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for the Sharks with the Kickr promo code. Make sure when you place your bet on Sharks vs Ducks you are using the BetMGM bonus code.
Final Score Prediction
Final Score Prediction: Anaheim Ducks 4, San Jose Sharks 3
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