Panthers vs. Sharks prediction favors Florida to win Thursday's NHL matchup [10/1/2026]

Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have re-simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL game between the Panthers and Sharks, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives the Panthers a 55.9% chance of beating the Sharks. According to our model, the Sharks (+1.5) have a 65.6% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has a 53.3% chance of staying under.

Latest betting odds

We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Puck Line: Panthers -1.5 (+165) / Sharks +1.5 (-189)
• Moneyline: Panthers -148, Sharks +130
• Total: Over/Under 6.5 (+100/-115)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Model picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

• Puck line: Sharks +1.5 @ -189 via ESPN BET
• Moneyline: Sharks @ +130 via ESPN BET
• Total: Under 6.5 @ -115 via ESPN BET

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Sharks to win.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.

Panthers vs. Sharks player props

Who will score a goal in Panthers vs. Sharks?

According to our model, Sam Reinhart is most likely to score an anytime goal in Panthers vs. Sharks.

Our projections give Reinhart a 39.4% chance of scoring a goal at SAP Center at San Jose, while the star is a 7.9% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

Florida Panthers

• Sam Reinhart: 39.4% probability
• Brady Tkachuk: 32.9% probability
• Matthew Tkachuk: 32.5% probability
• Sam Bennett: 30.4% probability
• Carter Verhaeghe: 30.3% probability

San Jose Sharks

• Macklin Celebrini: 38.0% probability
• Will Smith: 26.5% probability
• Igor Chernyshov: 25.3% probability
• Kiefer Sherwood: 23.3% probability
• Mason Marchment: 23.2% probability

First goal scorer predictions

Florida Panthers

• Sam Reinhart: 7.9% probability
• Brady Tkachuk: 6.2% probability
• Matthew Tkachuk: 6.0% probability
• Carter Verhaeghe: 5.5% probability
• Sam Bennett: 5.3% probability

San Jose Sharks

• Macklin Celebrini: 7.5% probability
• Will Smith: 5.2% probability
• Igor Chernyshov: 4.5% probability
• Mason Marchment: 4.4% probability
• Kiefer Sherwood: 4.2% probability

Game info & puck drop details

Thursday's matchup between the Sharks and Panthers at SAP Center at San Jose is scheduled to begin at 10:00 PM ET.

• Who: Florida Panthers vs. San Jose Sharks
• Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
• Time: 10:00 PM ET/7:00PM PT
• Venue: SAP Center at San Jose

Conclusion

We predict the Panthers, with a 55.9% win probability, will likely beat the Sharks in Thursday's NHL matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.

This article's predictions and probabilities are generated by Dimers' proprietary NHL prediction model. Our editorial team reviews the resulting content for accuracy and presentation before publication.