Prediction: Ottawa Senators VS San Jose Sharks 2025-11-22
Ottawa Senators vs. San Jose Sharks: A Battle of Biscuits and Brawn
Parse the Odds: The Numbers Don’t Lie (Mostly)
The Ottawa Senators (-162) are the chalk here, with implied odds suggesting a 61.7% chance to win. The San Jose Sharks (+134) offer a tempting 42.6% implied probability, but let’s not confuse “tempting” with “sensible.” The spread is Senators -1.5, and the total is 5.5 goals—a number so low it makes you wonder if the oddsmakers forgot these teams shoot pucks, not darts.
Statistically, Ottawa edges out San Jose in goals-for (3.25 vs. 2.95), power-play efficiency (23.8% vs. 18.1%), and shots per game (26.5 vs. 24.1). San Jose’s saving grace? A slightly better goals-against rate (3.19 vs. 3.35). Both teams shoot like they’re at a Nerf gun tournament (12.2% vs. 12.3% shooting percentage). The key stat? Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark, who’s 7-0-0 in his career against the Sharks. That’s not a coincidence—it’s more like a ghosting spell.
Digest the News: Injuries, Rivalries, and a Former Teammate’s Embarrassing Decline
San Jose’s young core—Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund—is the NHL’s version of a Netflix true-crime doc: promising, chaotic, and one step away from a dramatic collapse. Celebrini is the standout, with 31 points in 31 games, but let’s be real: He’s just the Sharks’ version of a used-car salesman—smooth, inconsistent, and occasionally caught tripping over his own ambition.
Ottawa’s Fabian Zetterlund, meanwhile, is a cautionary tale. Traded from San Jose, he’s producing at a 0.494 points-per-game rate—down from his 0.494 points-per-game rate in San Jose. Wait, what? His ice time (14:15 vs. 17:29), shooting percentage (4.4% vs. 10.7%), and power-play minutes have all cratered. It’s like he’s a Michelin-starred chef who’s now cooking ramen for a food critic with a vendetta.
The Sharks’ Yaroslav Askarov has been a revelation, posting a .952 save percentage in his last seven games. Ottawa’s Ullmark? He’s the NHL’s version of a superhero who never loses to the same villain twice—7-0-0 against San Jose.
Humorous Spin: Pucks, Punishment, and a Former Teammate’s Embarrassment
San Jose’s power play is so anemic, it makes you wonder if they’re using a deflated Zamboni. Their 18.1% success rate is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine. Meanwhile, Ottawa’s power play? It’s like a well-oiled machine run by a guy who watches too much Mission: Impossible—23.8% efficiency and a “we’ll beat you even when we’re shorthanded” attitude.
Zetterlund’s drop in production? It’s the hockey equivalent of a magician forgetting his rabbit. He’s still throwing around 74 hits per 40 games, but his scoring? That’s about as useful as a snow globe in July.
And let’s not forget the goaltending rivalry. Ullmark’s 7-0-0 record against his old team is like a ghost haunting a family reunion—every save feels personal.
Prediction: The Biscuits Win, But Not Without Drama
Despite San Jose’s recent 6-0-1 home streak, Ottawa’s depth, momentum, and Ullmark’s vendetta make them the smarter bet. The Senators’ 5-1-3 run in their last nine games (including a thrilling 3-2 comeback against Anaheim) suggests they’re the type of team that thrives under pressure—like a reality TV contestant with nothing left to lose.
Final Score Prediction: Ottawa 4, San Jose 2
Prop Bets:
- Macklin Celebrini will score, because even the Sharks’ kids need to contribute.
- Dylan Cozens will be the Senators’ hero, because someone has to make the locals feel good about their $50 beer.
Why? The math says Ottawa, the momentum says Ottawa, and the fact that Zetterlund’s shooting percentage is lower than my dating app success rate? Also Ottawa. Bet on the Senators, unless you enjoy watching underdogs cling to hope like a toddler to a security blanket. Good luck, and may your picks be as sharp as Ullmark’s saves.
Created: Nov. 22, 2025, 5:32 p.m. GMT