San Jose Sharks vs. Utah Mammoth Picks and Prediction for Friday, October 17, 2025
Use Code WWWC San Jose Sharks (0-1-2) vs. Utah Mammoth (2-2-0)
The 2025-26 NHL betting action goes on Friday, October 17, with a small four-game card, and in this preview, we are breaking down the Western Conference showdown from Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT, to get you the Sharks vs. Mammoth prediction.
San Jose and Utah start their three-game regular-season series. Last season, Utah took two out of three from San Jose, and the former Coyotes have only dropped one of their previous six encounters with the Sharks.
Let’s take a closer look at this Sharks vs. Mammoth prediction, one of our NHL picks for Friday night. The Mammoth are surefire -260 moneyline favorites with a total of 6.5 goals. The puck drop is set at 9:00 PM ET.
The Sharks are still winless in 2025-26
The San Jose Sharks hit the road for the first time this season. The Sharks started their 2025-26 campaign with a three-game homestand, earning a couple of points in the process. After consecutive overtime defeats to the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 and the Anaheim Ducks 7-6, the Sharks suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes this past Tuesday.
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Obviously, the Sharks desperately need more from their defense. They just allowed a whopping 43 shots to Carolina. In their season opener, the Sharks gave up 31 shots to Vegas and blew a one-goal lead three times, while Anaheim outshot San Jose 44-23 on the night. The Sharks had a 6-4 lead midway through the Ducks’ game.
Alex Nedeljkovic gave up four goals against the Golden Knights and five against the Hurricanes. Yaroslav Askarov guarded the cage against the Ducks and surrendered seven goals. The Sharks are 8-for-11 with the man down and 3-for-13 with the man advantage.
The Mammoth hope to stay on track
The Utah Mammoth opened the season with a three-game road trip, sandwiching a 3-2 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators with a pair of losses versus the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 and the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1.
Last Wednesday, the Mammoth started a three-game homestand with a 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. Utah outshot Calgary 32-20 and fully deserved to win. JJ Peterka scored his second goal of the season, while Karel Vejmelka posted 19 saves, advancing to 2-1-0 on the season.
Vejmelka is expected to patrol the crease on Friday night. The 29-year-old netminder boasts a 1.67 GAA and a .929 save percentage in 2025-26. Utah is 13-for-16 with the man down, but the Mammoth have only converted one of their 16 power-play opportunities.
Sharks vs. Mammoth Pick
Spread Pick for Sharks vs. Mammoth
- Utah Mammoth -1.5 (5 units)
The Mammoth need more from their offense, and I expect them to get things going in this matchup. I mentioned how bad the Sharks’ defense has been thus far, and the Mammoth have some very dangerous offensive weapons at their disposal.
Dylan Guenther has already accounted for a couple of goals and assists, while Nick Schmaltz has three dishes on his season tally. Utah is in the middle of the pack when it comes to high-danger scoring chances, whereas San Jose ranks 31st in the league in this category.
Hereof, I’m backing Utah to beat the puckline.
Over/Under Pick for Sharks vs. Mammoth
- Over 6.5 (5 units)
The total is a tricky wager in this game. The Sharks’ defense looks awful, but the Mammoth’s defense has done a good job through the first four games of the season. Karel Vejmelka might be a top 10 goalie in the league. Moreover, the Mammoth have struggled to find the back of the net, though I expect them to score at least three when the Sharks come to town.
Utah could easily score four or five, so I’m going to hold my nose and take the over. The Sharks are allowing too many shots, and their offense isn’t bad. Interestingly, the Sharks are third in the league in shooting percentage (15.9%).
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