The Sharks had never won against the Stormers in Cape Town in the URC, with their only victory being in 2021. Post that solitary win, the two teams had met four times in Cape Town and the Sharks had lost all four, albeit by an average score of five points.

Will Smith scored in his second consecutive game after missing a month because of injury, and the San Jose Sharks spoiled Matthew Tkachuk’s season debut by beating the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers 4-1 in a game highlighted by a rare

Leonard pulled the Capitals to within 3-2 at 9:11 of the third period when he deked around Sharks forward Ryan Reaves at the top of the zone, skated down the slot and beat Nedeljkovic with a high snap shot on the glove side. “I just tried to attack the forward and they did a great job of screening the goalie as well,” Leonard said.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. San Jose Sharks NHL game from January 20, 2026 on ESPN.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Tomas Hertl had two goals and three assists, Jack Eichel also scored twice and the Vegas Golden Knights beat San Jose 7-2 on Sunday night, ending young Sharks star Macklin Celebrini's points streak at 13 games.

The Rangers had only 14 seconds of even-strength time before committing another penalty: a Matthew Robertson delay of game for sending a puck over the glass. New York’s penalty kill managed to contain Celebrini and the Sharks’ top unit, but Pavol Regenda scored on a backhand shot when San Jose’s second grouping took the ice.

The Sharks' Alex Nedeljkovic and Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky threw hands at the 14-minute mark of the third period. The confrontation was the culmination of a melee that began when Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues hit Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais hard behind the net.