Tampa Bay Lightning vs San Jose Sharks Prediction & Odds - 12/05/2024

The Tampa Bay Lightning (12-9-2) welcome the San Jose Sharks (10-13-5) to Amalie Arena on Thursday night, with both teams looking to build momentum after showing mixed recent form.

The Sharks enter the contest riding a three-game winning streak, including an impressive 2-1 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals, where goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood showcased his skills with a stellar .964 save percentage.

Tampa Bay, despite their recent 5-3 setback against the Toronto Maple Leafs, holds a commanding edge in the head-to-head matchup, having won eight of their last ten meetings with the Sharks.

The Lightning's high-powered offense, averaging 3.74 goals per game and led by the dynamic duo of Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel, will face off against a rejuvenated Sharks defense that has tightened up considerably during their winning streak.

While historical trends favor the Lightning, the Sharks' recent defensive improvements and newfound offensive chemistry between William Eklund and Mikael Granlund suggest this matchup could be closer than past encounters.

As these teams prepare to face off at Amalie Arena, hockey fans will be watching closely to see if the Sharks can continue their upward trajectory or if the Lightning will maintain their historical dominance in this compelling NHL matchup.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. San Jose Sharks prediction: who will win?

For tonight's Tampa Bay Lightning vs San Jose Sharks matchup, our predictive model gives the Lightning a 66.67% chance of defeating the Sharks.

Tampa Bay Lightning: 66.67% win probability

• Superior offensive efficiency (86 goals scored in 23 games, 3.74 goals per game)
• Better goal differential (-13 vs Sharks' -17)
• Higher points percentage (.565 points percentage vs Sharks' .446)

San Jose Sharks: 33.33% win probability

• Poor defensive record (97 goals against in 28 games)
• Lower standing position (12th in Western Conference vs Lightning's 9th in Eastern)
• More games played with fewer points (25 points in 28 games vs Lightning's 26 in 23 games)

At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.