The Chicago Blackhawks travel to face the San Jose Sharks on April 6, 2026, at SAP Center in San Jose. The matchup carries different motivations for the two teams. San Jose are still pushing to stay in the Western Conference playoff race, while Chicago are nearing the end of a difficult season. The Sharks recently had their winning momentum stopped but remain competitive at home, while the Blackhawks have struggled with consistency away from Chicago. With young stars like Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard leading their respective teams, fans can expect an exciting offensive contest.
Match Details
| Match | Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks |
|---|---|
| Date | April 6, 2026 |
| Time | 10:00 PM ET |
| Venue | SAP Center |
| Location | San Jose, California |
| Broadcast | ESPN+, NBCSCA, CHSN |
Western Conference Standings Snapshot
| Team | Position | Points Situation |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose Sharks | Around playoff race | Close to Top 8 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Near bottom | Eliminated from playoff contention |
San Jose remain within reach of the playoff positions, while Chicago are playing mainly for pride as the regular season winds down.
Betting Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Sharks -170 |
| Moneyline | Blackhawks +140 |
| Total Goals | 6.5 |
| Projection | Sharks slight favorite |
The betting market favors San Jose due to their home advantage and stronger scoring form recently.
Recent Form
San Jose Sharks – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 5 | Predators | Loss 3–6 |
| Apr 3 | Maple Leafs | Win 4–1 |
| Apr 2 | Ducks | Win 4–3 |
| Mar 31 | Blues | Win 5–4 |
| Mar 29 | Blue Jackets | Win 3–2 |
San Jose recently had a four-game winning streak before their loss against Nashville.
Chicago Blackhawks – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 5 | Kraken | Win 4–2 |
| Apr 3 | Oilers | Loss 1–3 |
| Apr 1 | Jets | Loss 3–4 |
| Mar 30 | Devils | Loss 3–5 |
| Mar 28 | Rangers | Loss 1–6 |
Chicago ended a five-game losing streak with a win over Seattle but still struggle to produce consistent results.
Head-to-Head Record
| Team | Wins (Last 3 Seasons) |
|---|---|
| Chicago Blackhawks | 5 |
| San Jose Sharks | 2 |
Chicago have held the edge in recent meetings, although San Jose have been more competitive when playing at home.
Key Players to Watch
San Jose Sharks
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Macklin Celebrini | Team scoring leader |
| William Smith | Secondary scoring option |
| Alexander Wennberg | Playmaking forward |
| Dmitry Orlov | Defensive contributor |
Celebrini has been the standout offensive player for San Jose, producing points consistently throughout the season.
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Connor Bedard | Offensive leader |
| Tyler Bertuzzi | Leading goal scorer |
| Ilya Mikheyev | Key winger |
| Teuvo Teravainen | Playmaker |
Bedard continues to lead Chicago’s offense and remains one of the most dangerous young players in the league.
Projected Lineups
| Chicago Blackhawks | San Jose Sharks |
|---|---|
| Greene – Bedard – Lardis | Chernyshov – Celebrini – Smith |
| Bertuzzi – Frondell – Mikheyev | Eklund – Wennberg – Sherwood |
| Donato – Nazar – Mangiapane | Graf – Misa – Toffoli |
| Teravainen – Boisvert – Slaggert | Goodrow – Ostapchuk – Dellandrea |
Defensive Pairings
| Chicago Blackhawks | San Jose Sharks |
|---|---|
| Vlasic – Crevier | Orlov – Desharnais |
| Kaiser – Rinzel | Mukhamadullin – Ferraro |
| Korchinski – Del Mastro | Dickinson – Leddy |
Goaltending Matchup
| Team | Goalies |
|---|---|
| Chicago Blackhawks | Spencer Knight / Arvid Soderblom |
| San Jose Sharks | Alex Nedeljkovic / Yaroslav Askarov |
Knight has produced solid save percentages despite Chicago’s defensive issues, while Nedeljkovic has shown slightly improved stability in recent games.
Injury Report
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Matt Grzelcyk | Out |
| Artyom Levshunov | Out |
| Oliver Moore | Injured |
| Andrew Mangiapane | Possible return |
San Jose Sharks
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Logan Couture | Out for season |
| Ryan Reaves | Injured |
Key Stats Comparison
| Category | Sharks | Blackhawks |
|---|---|---|
| Recent Goals Per Game | Around 3 | Around 2 |
| Home Offensive Form | Strong | Weak away scoring |
| Defensive Stability | Inconsistent | Also inconsistent |
San Jose’s attack has been producing goals consistently in recent games, which could be a decisive factor.
Also see: Kraken vs Jets Prediction, Lineup NHL 6 April 2026
Player Props
| Player | Prop Pick |
|---|---|
| Macklin Celebrini | Anytime Goal |
| Connor Bedard | Anytime Goal |
| Tyler Bertuzzi | Over 0.5 Points |
Celebrini has scored in several recent games and continues to lead the Sharks’ offense.
Best Picks
| Bet Type | Pick |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | San Jose Sharks |
| Total Goals | Under 6.5 |
| Player Prop | Celebrini Anytime Goal |
San Jose’s recent offensive momentum and home ice advantage give them the edge in this matchup.
How to Watch Blackhawks vs Sharks
Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ with puck drop scheduled for 10:00 PM ET at SAP Center in San Jose.
Final Prediction
San Jose enter this matchup with stronger recent form and a realistic chance of staying in the playoff hunt. Their offense has been productive at home and they have consistently scored multiple goals in recent games. Chicago have improved slightly after ending their losing streak, but their road performance remains one of the weakest in the conference.
If Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks’ top line continue their scoring form, San Jose should control the pace of the game.
Predicted Score
San Jose Sharks 4 – Chicago Blackhawks 3
Add as a preferred source on Google
