Game Forty-Eight: San Jose Sharks (24-20-3) at Tampa Bay Lightning (30-13-3)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, NBCSCA, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning

Know the Opponents: Fear the Fin

The Tampa Bay Lightning are finally back at Benchmark International Arena after a two-week road trip. Unfortunately, it’s a limited engagement as they go back on the road for a couple of games this weekend. They do get a bit of a friendly schedule as the San Jose Sharks are on the second half of their Florida back-to-back, having spoiled Matthew Tkachuck’s season debut with a 4-1 win.

Oh yeah, and there was a goalie fight.

We have a goalie fight!
Sergei Bobrovsky skates all the way down to challenge Alex Nedeljkovic (h/t @msmambo.bsky.social)

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) January 19, 2026 at 8:17 PM

Since the Bolts throttled them earlier this month, San Jose has picked thing up, winning five of their last seven. The offense has helped them along as they’ve picked up 26 goals in those seven outings. Macklin Celebrini (9 points) and Alex Wennberg (7 points) are leading the way, but 10 players have at least 3 points over that stretch.

They’ve added some more potential scoring with the Kiefer Sherwood acquisition (no confirmation if he’ll be in the line-up tonight) as it appears they are ready to make a run in the Pacific Division.

The Lightning are coming off their own 4-1 victory and bring a 13-game point streak into the game tonight. After the offense scuffled a little in their previous two games, they found a way to put up four goals against a solid Dallas defense. Jake Guentzel and Dominic James showed some chemistry as they combined for a pair of goals.

If they can keep that going it allows Coach Jon Cooper to keep Nikita Kucherov with Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel. His favorite trio of Yanni Gourde, Pontus Holmberg, and Zemgus Girgensons can also stay together.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Brandon HagelAnthony CirelliNikita KucherovGage GoncalvesDominic JamesJake GuentzelZemgus GirgensonsYanni GourdePontus HolmbergJack FinleyNick PaulOliver Bjorkstrand

Defense:

J.J. MoserDarren RaddyshCharle-Edouard D’AstousErik CernakDeclan CarlileMax Crozier

Goaltenders:

Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson

Sharks

Forwards:

Collin GrafMacklin CelebriniWill SmithWilliam EklundAlexander WennbergTyler ToffoliPavol RegendaMichael MisaIgor ChernyshovBarclay GoodrowZack OstapchukRyan Reaves

Defense:

Dmitry OrlovJohn KlingbergMario FerraroTimothy LiljegrenSam DickinsonVincent Desharnais

Goaltenders:

Yaroslav AskarovAlex Nedeljkovic