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The San Jose Sharks will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday at 10 p.m. EST in what promises to be a compelling inter-conference matchup. Both teams are looking to build momentum as they navigate the challenges of their respective divisions.
San Jose (20-18-3) is coming off a 7-3 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite a standout performance from Pavol who recorded a hat trick. The Sharks currently hold an 11-8-3 record at home and boast a strong record in close contests, going 10-4-2 in one-goal games. Their recent form has been solid, with a 6-4-0 record over their last ten games, during which they’ve averaged 3.9 goals per game. However, they’ve also conceded an average of 4.1 goals, highlighting a need for defensive tightening.
Blue Jackets Seek Road Success
Columbus (18-16-7), competing in the Metropolitan Division, has struggled on the road, posting a 9-9-3 record. The Blue Jackets have also found themselves in numerous tight games, with a 6-7-6 record in one-goal contests. Over their last ten games, they’ve averaged 3.3 goals while allowing just 2.6, indicating a more defensively sound approach recently.
Key Players to Watch
Leading the charge for the Sharks is Macklin Celebrini, who has been a force this season with 22 goals and 41 assists. Alexander Wennberg has also been instrumental in the Sharks’ offense, contributing one goal and 10 assists in his last ten appearances.
For the Blue Jackets, Dmitri Voronkov is a key offensive threat, having tallied 15 goals and 12 assists. Zachary Werenski has also been on a hot streak, registering six goals and eight assists over the past ten games.
Recent Performance Breakdown
Here’s a closer look at how both teams have performed in their last ten games:
- Sharks: 6-4-0, 3.9 goals per game, 6.4 assists per game, 3.7 penalties, 8.2 penalty minutes, 4.1 goals allowed per game.
- Blue Jackets: 5-4-1, 3.3 goals per game, 5.9 assists per game, 3.8 penalties, 8.2 penalty minutes, 2.6 goals allowed per game.
Injury Report
Currently, neither team has reported any injuries.
Tuesday’s game marks the first encounter between these two teams this season, adding an element of intrigue as they assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The outcome could prove crucial as both the Sharks and Blue Jackets strive for improved positioning within their respective conferences.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Copyright © 2026 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
