Calgary vs San Jose Prediction 31 January 2026
🔊 The second-to-last team in the Western Conference will host one of their most favorable opponents - San Jose. The Sharks have a chance to climb into the playoff picture before the Olympic break. Can the Flames extend their winning streak against the Sharks? We delve into the head-to-head history and the latest team news in our prediction for this NHL regular season matchup.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past five seasons, the teams have faced off 17 times: the Flames have won 12, while the Sharks have claimed victory 5 times. Last December, the Sharks snapped Calgary's seven-game winning streak by defeating them at home (6-3). On their own ice, Calgary have not lost to this opponent in four consecutive meetings.
Head-to-head statistics Calgary - San Jose
Calgary Flames Team Overview
The Flames have recently dropped to the second-to-last spot in the Western Conference after suffering a 4-1 defeat on the road against Minnesota-marking their fifth consecutive loss under coach Ryan Huska. In terms of points lost, Calgary are still ahead of the St. Louis Blues, but following their second losing streak this month, their playoff hopes are dimming.
In their previous home series, Calgary lost all four games-a season-worst performance. Over a five-game stretch, no team fared worse than the Flames, who managed just 2 points-even Vancouver managed to secure 4 points. Most concerning for the hosts is that they have only scored 7 goals across those five games.
The Flames are also plagued by injuries-defensemen Jake Bean and Zane Parekh, who is nearing a return via the farm team, have been sidelined for some time, along with forwards Blake Coleman, John Beecher, and Samuel Honzek.
Match Results: Calgary Flames
San Jose Sharks Team Overview
The Sharks, thanks to their consistent point accumulation in January games, are among the top teams over the last five matches. In the standings, San Jose are positioned as close as possible to the playoff spots. In the remaining games before the Olympic break, Ryan Warsofsky's team could potentially leapfrog three clubs and secure a playoff berth.
When facing lower-ranked teams, the Sharks play with confidence, having defeated Vancouver twice and picking up wins against the Rangers and Calgary once each in the past month, averaging five goals per game. However, their encounters with top-tier teams aren't always as favorable. Recently, the Sharks squandered a three-goal lead in one period against Edmonton (3-4 OT).
San Jose are seriously considering bolstering their lineup with Russian forward Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers. For one of the league's lowest shooting teams (25.5 shots per game), a productive forward could be a significant asset.
Match Results: San Jose Sharks
⚡️ Leaders
Calgary are the team with the fewest goals scored (131) in the league. It's no surprise that not a single Flames player features in the NHL's top 100 scorers. The team's leading scorer, Nazem Kadri, has managed just 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 13 January games. Jonathan Huberdeau has been picking up points for the Flames in two consecutive games.
San Jose, even without Panarin, have players stepping up to score. Their standout star and top scorer remains Macklin Celebrini. The 19-year-old Canadian is among the top four point-getters in the NHL with 79 points (27 goals, 52 assists). Over a three-game stretch, the forward has netted 3 goals and provided 4 assists.
🥅 Goalies
In recent games, Calgary have been rotating Devin Cooley and Dustin Wolf between the pipes. Wolf ranks among the top three most tested goalies in the NHL, facing 1,053 shots on goal.
In the match against Edmonton, Yaroslav Askarov started his second consecutive game but conceded three goals in a period, which was a setback. Alex Nedeljkovic has shown consistent performance in the games where he has been trusted to start.
Editorial Prediction
In head-to-head statistics, where Calgary boast a commendable lead, the Flames also showcase impressive scoring prowess against the Sharks-scoring three or more goals in all but two of their last 16 encounters.
Meanwhile, San Jose also manage to score heavily against underdogs-netting 14 in three games against Vancouver and eight in two matches with the Rangers. The odds on total goals are enticing, so we’re opting for over 5.5 total goals in the match.
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Betting Tips: Calgary Flames - San Jose Sharks
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