Tampa Bay at San Jose Sharks as both teams battled in center ice for the opening period at SAP Center on Jan 3rd, 2026 (Sharks Media)

By Fernando Abarca

SAN JOSE, Calif– The San Jose Sharks (20-18-3) were ready to start the new year as the team hit the mid-point of the season, hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning (25-13-3). The Teal is trying to start off the first game of the year on a good note, but the visitors gave them a friendly reminder that they are top contenders in the Eastern Conference, and that reminder was not a friendly one crushing San Jose 7-3 Saturday.

From way before the start of the period, the Bolts came with superiority as they are on a 6-game streak, and made it to seven tonight. While for the Teal, they are on 3 3-game in a row winning streak, not bad for a team that is progressively improving.

During the first Period, the game was absolutely dominated by Tampa Bay. Brayden Point (10). Darren Raddysh (10) and Brandon Hagel (19) all contributed to a 3-0 lead within the first seven minutes of the period. The Sharks tried to get a sign of relief, scoring the lone powerr play goal of the period by the Sharks Pavol Regenda.

In the second period, the game was drawn by fights, penalties, intensity, and physicality. A total of nine penalties were given to each team for roughing and misconduct. The fight certainly set the tone of the game, but it also played a side effect role. The scoring remained in favor of Tampa Bay, with four more goals scored which two of which were those during a power play advantage.

Regenda helped the Sharks with another goal during the second period.

In the third, the Sharks were not able to bounce back, and the game remained. San Jose’s Regenda managed one goal in the third period but trailed by a comfortable margin, unable to mount a full comeback against a Lightning squad that dominated possession and capitalized on its scoring chances throughout the afternoon. Tampa Bay’s depth and execution stood out throughout the 60 minutes of Hockey.

The loss drops the Sharks in the second Wild Card spot momentarily, and marks an end to their three-game winning streak, a run that had briefly given San Jose momentum in the tightly contested Pacific Division.

The action returns Tuesday night at SAP Center against the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 7:00pm PT puck drop.