The San Jose Sharks (25-20-3) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (30-13-4) in an interconference matchup, with the Sharks wrapping up a challenging road trip and the Lightning aiming to extend their strong home form. Tampa Bay has won 11 of their last 15 games overall, showcasing elite offensive depth despite injuries, while San Jose has alternated wins and losses recently but boasts a surprising 7-3 ATS mark in their last 10. This game could hinge on special teams and goaltending, as the Lightning’s power play ranks among the league’s best, potentially exploiting the Sharks’ average penalty kill. Expect a high-energy contest at Amalie Arena, where Tampa Bay holds a significant edge in recent head-to-heads.
Game Details
Puckdrop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
TV Broadcast: ESPN+, TSN2, RDS, NBCSCA, BSSUN
How to Watch: NHL Network (streaming available via ESPN+)
Recent Team Forms
The Sharks are 3-2 in their last five, with strong offensive outbursts in wins but defensive lapses in losses. The Lightning are 4-1 in their last five, dominating at home with high-scoring victories.
San Jose Sharks Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Jan 17 | @ Detroit Red Wings | L | 2-4 |
| Jan 15 | @ Washington Capitals | W | 3-2 |
| Jan 11 | vs. Vegas Golden Knights | L | 2-3 |
| Jan 10 | vs. Dallas Stars | W | 5-4 |
| Jan 6 | vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | W | 5-2 |
Tampa Bay Lightning Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Jan 18 | @ Dallas Stars | W | 4-1 |
| Jan 16 | @ St. Louis Blues | W | 2-1 |
| Jan 13 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | L | 1-3 |
| Jan 12 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | W | 5-2 |
| Jan 10 | vs. Vancouver Canucks | W | 4-2 |
Injury Report
Injuries are impacting both teams, with Tampa Bay missing key defensemen and San Jose dealing with forward absences that could limit their depth.
San Jose Sharks: Kiefer Sherwood (LW) – IR (Undisclosed, expected return Feb. 4); Ty Dellandrea (C) – IR (Lower Body, expected return Feb. 4); Shakir Mukhamadullin (D) – IR (Upper Body, expected return Jan. 20); Philipp Kurashev (C) – IR (Undisclosed, expected return Jan. 20).
Tampa Bay Lightning: Brayden Point (C) – IR (Lower Body/Knee, expected return Feb. 5); Ryan McDonagh (D) – IR (Lower Body, expected return Jan. 20); Victor Hedman (D) – Out (Elbow); Scott Sabourin (RW) – Out (Undisclosed); Emil Martinsen Lilleberg (D) – Out (Undisclosed).
Key Player Matchups
This matchup features offensive stars against solid defenses. Tampa Bay’s high-scoring attack (top-5 in goals per game) could overwhelm San Jose’s road penalty kill (bottom-10), but the Sharks’ young forwards may exploit the Lightning’s depleted blue line.
Macklin Celebrini (Sharks) vs. Nikita Kucherov (Lightning): Celebrini (rookie sensation, recent 12-game point streak) brings speed and creativity. Kucherov (league-leading points, 5 points in their first meeting this season) is a dynamic winger; expect a battle of elite puck-handlers on the power play.
Tyler Toffoli (Sharks) vs. Jake Guentzel (Lightning): Toffoli (20+ goals) adds veteran scoring from the wing. Guentzel (consistent 0.8 PPG) thrives in high-danger areas; this could be a net-front duel with Tampa Bay’s depleted D.
Mario Ferraro (Sharks) vs. Steven Stamkos (Lightning): Ferraro anchors San Jose’s blue line with physicality and shot-blocking. Stamkos (veteran captain, strong one-timer) will test him on the man advantage.
Goaltending: Mackenzie Blackwood (Sharks) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (Lightning): Blackwood (solid .905 SV%) faces a tough test on the road. Vasilevskiy (top-10 GAA) has the edge at home but has shown fatigue in back-to-backs.
Tampa Bay ranks 4th in power-play efficiency, while San Jose is 15th in goals against.
Series History
The Lightning lead the all-time series 29-22-2-0 in 53 regular-season meetings.
Tampa Bay has dominated recently, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 against the Sharks, including a 7-3 win on January 3, 2026.
Jan 3, 2026: Lightning 7-3 @ Sharks
Jan 2, 2025: Lightning 2-1 vs. Sharks
Dec 5, 2024: Lightning 8-1 vs. Sharks
Average margin in Tampa Bay’s last three wins: +4.3 goals.
Betting Trends
Spread:
Sharks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall and 5-2 ATS on the road as underdogs.
Lightning are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 and 7-1 ATS when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in the previous game.
Over/Under: 6.5 (-110 to +100). Teams combine for 6.8 GPG, exceeding the total. Lightning games hit over 59% (29/49); Sharks under 55% (27/49) but over in 4 of last 5 road games vs. Tampa Bay.
Other Trends: Lightning are 7-1 SU in their last 8 when opponent allows 2+ goals prior; Sharks are 11-43 SU in last 54 road games vs. teams with winning home records.
Game Odds
San Jose Sharks 6.5
Tampa Bay Lightning – 298
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 19, 2026
