Lightning vs. Sharks Prediction: Tampa Bay Predicted to Win Thursday's NHL Matchup [1/2/2025]

The San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the NHL at SAP Center at San Jose on Thursday, starting at 10:30PM ET.

Based on updated simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model (see Dimers Pro for full access) predicts the Lightning as the most likely winner of today's game.

"Using the latest data, our experts simulated Thursday's Tampa Bay-San Jose game 10,000 times," said Mac Douglass from Dimers.

"Taking into account recent updates and various additional inputs, we forecast the Lightning with a win probability of 68% and the Sharks with 32%."

For expanded analysis of Thursday's matchup, including best bets and player prop picks, visit our interactive Lightning vs. Sharks predictions page.

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Lightning vs. Sharks Game-Day Updates and Essential Details

Thursday's game between the Sharks and Lightning at SAP Center at San Jose is scheduled to start at 10:30PM ET.

• Who: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. San Jose Sharks
• Date: Thursday, January 2, 2025
• Time: 10:30PM ET/7:30PM PT
• Venue: SAP Center at San Jose
• Tickets: Get tickets for the game on Ticketmaster

Dimers.com's in-depth preview of Thursday's Lightning vs. Sharks matchup includes our prediction, picks and the latest betting odds.

Before making any Tampa Bay vs. San Jose picks, be sure to check out the latest NHL predictions and betting advice from Dimers Pro.

Lightning vs. Sharks Prediction: Who Will Win, Cover the Puck Line?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL game between the Lightning and Sharks 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives the Lightning a 68% chance of defeating the Sharks.

According to our model, the Sharks (+1.5) have a 53% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has a 51% chance of staying under.

Lightning vs. Sharks Odds

We have researched the best betting odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Lightning	Sharks
Puck Line	-1.5 (-108)	+1.5 (-110)
Moneyline	-275	+225
Total	o6.5 (+102)	u6.5 (-122)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Lightning vs. Sharks Picks

Our model's strongest edge in today's Lightning vs. Sharks matchup is on the moneyline.

Our expert predictions, matched against the best odds, reveal the best NHL picks for every game throughout the season.

Unlimited access to our complete set of picks, including this one, is available via Dimers Pro.

Lightning vs. Sharks Player Props

Who will score the first goal in Lightning vs. Sharks?

According to our model, Tampa Bay's Brayden Point is most likely to score the first goal in Lightning vs. Sharks.

Our projections give Point a 9.4% chance of scoring the first goal at SAP Center at San Jose, while the Lightning star is a 49.2% chance of netting an anytime goal.

First Goal Scorer Predictions

Tampa Bay Lightning

Player	First Goal Probability
Brayden Point	9.4%
Jake Guentzel	7.8%
Nikita Kucherov	6.7%

San Jose Sharks

Player	First Goal Probability
Macklin Celebrini	6.6%
Tyler Toffoli	5.4%
Fabian Zetterlund	4.4%

Anytime Goal Scorer Predictions

Tampa Bay Lightning

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Brayden Point	49.2%
Jake Guentzel	40.8%
Brandon Hagel	35.7%

San Jose Sharks

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Macklin Celebrini	35.5%
Tyler Toffoli	29.2%
Fabian Zetterlund	25.6%

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Conclusion

We predict the Lightning, with a 68% win probability, will likely beat the Sharks on Thursday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Lightning vs. Sharks insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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