In the first of three games on their California road trip, the Tampa Bay Lightning will take on the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center tonight for the first of two meeting between these teams this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. E.T.
This will be the only game the Lightning play in San Jose this season which can only be viewed as a good thing if you look at how Tampa Bay has performed there historically. Tampa Bay is 8-9-0 with one tie all-time when they take on the Sharks on their home-ice.
Overall, the Bolts have been a close to .500 team against the Sharks, going 17-19-0 with two ties. Steven Stamkos has historically played well when he faces the Sharks, recording eight goals and five assists in 11 games. The same can be said for Ryan Callahan who has posted seven goals and three assists in 11 games against San Jose.
Last night, the Lightning were dethroned as the top team in the National Hockey League, now one point behind the St. Louis Blues who have 25 points in 16 games. However, all of that can change tonight will a victory as the Blues do not play again until tomorrow. The Los Angeles Kings, who are tied with the Lightning in points, play again tomorrow against the Bolts. Tampa would love to go into that matchup ahead if the Kings in the overall standing, although it matters very little in the grand scheme of things.
Though it can't be compared to the start the Bolts have experienced, the Sharks have also looked pretty solid early on in the 2017-18 season. San Jose currently sits in fourth place in the Pacific Division with an 8-5-0 record. They have performed well at home so far, currently 5-3-0 at the SAP Center.
With this being the first of back-to-back road games against tough teams, it is crucial for the Bolts to come out on top against the Sharks tonight. It would be an unfortunate circumstance to head into the Staples Center tomorrow night with the possibility of going on their first losing streak of the season.