TAMPA BAY — This is the end of the back-to-back back-to-back back-to-back back-to-back nightmare for the San Jose Sharks.
After this, what will that mean for their goaltending?
Tuesday night at the Tampa Bay Lightning will be the end of four consecutive back-to-backs for the Sharks. San Jose, impressively, has won five of these last seven.
Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic have alternated starts, Nedeljkovic winning four and Askarov one. Askarov should get the net at Amalie Arena tonight.
This speaks to a recent trend between the pipes for the Sharks. Since Askarov’s torrid November, when he posted an 8-2-0 record and a .944 Save %, rightly seizing the No. 1 job then, Nedeljkovic has outplayed him.
Since Dec. 1, Askarov is 7-6-0 with an .866 Save %. Per Evolving Hockey, he has a -5.53 Goals Saved Above Expected. Nedeljkovic is 6-3-0 with an .895 Save % and a +3.47 GSAx.
Nedeljkovic hasn’t been dominant, but he’s clearly been better, especially in January.
After Tampa, the Sharks finish with six games before the Olympic break, no back-to-backs.
Will the veteran Nedeljkovic get his chance to run with the ball?
There’s no doubt that 23-year-old Askarov is the future in the crease for the Sharks, but San Jose needs wins now.
San Jose Sharks (25-20-3)
Askarov should start.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky will announce the rest of the line-up at about 1:30 PM PT.
Tampa Bay Lightning (30-13-4)
Here’s how the Lightning lined up in their last game, a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Lightning lines https://t.co/T6UjPiYrD5
— LinesLinesLines (@CcCMiddleton) January 18, 2026
Where To Watch
Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning is at 4 PM PT at Benchmark International Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.