The Tampa Bay Lightning (20-12-2) head to SAP Center looking to extend their impressive run against the San Jose Sharks (11-23-6) in what promises to be an intriguing cross-conference matchup on Thursday night.
The Lightning, boasting the NHL's highest-scoring offense at 3.94 goals per game, enter the contest following a surprising 5-2 loss to Montreal but have dominated recent meetings with San Jose, winning their last three encounters by a combined score of 18-2.
The Sharks, mired in an eight-game losing streak and managing just 2.63 goals per game, will need to find answers against Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy, who brings a strong 2.39 GAA and .914 save percentage into the contest.
Recent history heavily favors Tampa Bay, who dismantled the Sharks 8-1 in their previous meeting this season on December 5.
While the Lightning aim to bounce back from their recent setback, the Sharks hope to reverse their fortunes on home ice where they've struggled in night games.
This compelling NHL matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions, with Tampa Bay's high-powered offense squaring off against a San Jose squad desperate to end their current slide.
San Jose Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: who will win?
For tonight's San Jose Sharks vs Tampa Bay Lightning matchup, our predictive model gives the Lightning a 78.25% chance of defeating the Sharks.
Tampa Bay Lightning: 78.25% win probability
- Elite offensive efficiency (134 goals scored in just 34 games)
- Strong defensive performance (97 goals against, among league's best)
- Consistent winning record (20-12 record with fewer games played than most teams)
San Jose Sharks: 21.75% win probability
- League-worst defense (146 goals against in 40 games)
- Poor recent form (5 consecutive losses - LLLLL)
- Lowest points in Western Conference (28 points in 40 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.
San Jose Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning odds
| San Jose Sharks | Tampa Bay Lightning | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | +220 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | -267 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The San Jose Sharks have won 11 out of 40 matches this season.
- 2The Tampa Bay Lightning have won 20 out of 34 matches this season.
- 3With 28 points, the San Jose Sharks holds the 15th position in the league standings.
- 4Tampa Bay Lightning's 42 points place them 7th in the rankings.
San Jose Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning form
San Jose Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning head to head
San Jose Sharks
17%
Tampa Bay Lightning
83%
Dec 6, 2024
Tampa Bay Lightning
8 : 1
San Jose Sharks
Mar 22, 2024
San Jose Sharks
1 : 4
Tampa Bay Lightning
Oct 26, 2023
Tampa Bay Lightning
6 : 0
San Jose Sharks
Feb 8, 2023
Tampa Bay Lightning
3 : 4
San Jose Sharks
Oct 29, 2022
San Jose Sharks
3 : 4
Tampa Bay Lightning
Feb 2, 2022
Tampa Bay Lightning
3 : 2
San Jose Sharks
