New York Islanders vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions for Saturday March 7 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/07/2026, 12:55 AM ET

The New York Islanders travel to face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the SAP Center at San Jose. The puck drops at 10:00 PM and the game will be televised on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not released for the moneyline, total, or puck line. This late-night NHL matchup features two teams with playoff aspirations looking to build momentum as the regular season continues. Be sure to also check out our free NHL picks for more expert predictions and betting insights on today’s NHL games.

Islanders Trying to Snap Recent Losing Streak

The New York Islanders enter this matchup with a 35-23-5 overall record and an 18-13-3 record on the road this season. The Islanders have been competitive away from home but come into this game looking to rebound after a couple of recent setbacks. New York recently lost to the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 and also lost to the Anaheim Ducks 5-1. Before those losses, the Islanders had been playing well, recently winning over the Florida Panthers 5-4 while also winning over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime and winning over the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime.

From a statistical standpoint, the Islanders have been fairly balanced this season. New York is averaging 2.89 goals per game while allowing 2.77 goals against per contest. The Islanders generate 27.6 shots per game and allow 28.0 shots against per game, showing a fairly even pace of play. On special teams, New York has scored 29 power play goals and holds a 16.0% power play conversion rate.

One area where the Islanders have been particularly strong is on the penalty kill. New York has killed off penalties at an 81.1% rate while allowing just 32 power play goals against. The Islanders have also scored seven short-handed goals this season and have not allowed a short-handed goal against, highlighting a disciplined and opportunistic defensive unit.

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Sharks Bringing Offensive Firepower at Home

The San Jose Sharks come into this matchup with a 30-25-4 record overall and a strong 17-10-3 record at home this season. The Sharks have been playing solid hockey recently and have won three of their last five games. San Jose recently won over the Montreal Canadiens 7-5 while also winning over the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in overtime and winning over the Edmonton Oilers 5-4. The Sharks’ recent losses came against the Calgary Flames 4-1 and the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.

Offensively, the Sharks have been productive this season, averaging 3.12 goals per game. However, defense has been an issue at times as San Jose is allowing 3.49 goals against per game. The Sharks average 25.9 shots per game but give up 30.6 shots against per contest, which can put additional pressure on their goaltending unit.

San Jose has leaned heavily on its power play this season. The Sharks have scored 41 power play goals and hold a solid 20.2% power play percentage. While their penalty kill sits at 78.4%, their ability to capitalize with the man advantage has helped drive their offense. If the Sharks can continue generating power play opportunities, they could create problems for the Islanders.

Islanders vs Sharks Pick

New York Islanders Moneyline

The Islanders look like the slightly more complete team entering this matchup. While San Jose has the stronger power play and has been scoring more goals, the Islanders are the better defensive team overall and allow significantly fewer goals per game. New York also tends to play disciplined hockey, which could limit San Jose’s opportunities on the power play. I expect the Islanders to tighten things defensively and control the pace of play in this matchup.

Islanders vs Sharks Total Pick

Take the over

I like the over in this matchup. San Jose has been involved in several high-scoring games recently, including a 7-5 win over Montreal and a 5-4 win over Edmonton. The Sharks allow a high number of shots and goals, while the Islanders have shown they can score in bunches as well. I expect both teams to generate scoring chances and push this game past the total if it is set in the typical NHL range.

Final Score Prediction: New York Islanders 4, San Jose Sharks 3

This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Friday.