The second half of the season officially starts tonight for the San Jose Sharks and the team begins with a showdown with another rebuilding squad, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Like the Sharks, Columbus is looking to take a step forward this season and that means making the playoffs.
For the Blue Jackets, this season has been disappointing in that regard. The team is 8th in the Metropolitan Division with a 18-16-7 record. Interestingly, that’s the same number of points the Sharks have, but the Eastern Conference is a tougher go of it this season, with all of the teams with a .500 points percentage or better. The same can’t be said for the Western Conference, where the NHL’s true bottom feeders reside.
This is the first of two meetings between the two teams. They’ll meet again on March 28 in Columbus.
For the Blue Jackets, keep an eye on Zach Werenski. The defenseman leads the team with 44 points. He’s also tied the team lead in goals with 15. Two other Blue Jackets players have 15 goals. They are Kirill Marchenko and Dimitri Voronkov.
Columbus is expected to be without known shit disturber Mason Marchment, defenseman Brendan Smith, forward Miles Wood or Isac Lundestrom, all of whom are injured.
San Jose Sharks lines tonight
Michael Misa is back in San Jose and back on the Sharks’ roster. Meantime, Shakir Mukhamadullin is on the injured reserve list, making room for Misa. Also, with Mukhamadullin out, Nick Leddy is in.
Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to start in the net tonight for the Sharks. The Bay Area News Group’s Curtis Pashelka reports the following lines at this morning’s skate. Note that Pavol Regenda was rewarded for his hard work on Saturday with a bump to the second line while Collin Graf was moved down.
Forwards
William Eklund — Macklin Celebrini — Igor Chernyshov
Pavol Regenda — Alexander Wennberg — Tyler Toffoli
Jeff Skinner — Ty Dellandrea — Collin Graf
Barclay Goodrow — Zack Ostapchuk — Ryan Reaves
Defense
Dmitry Orlov — Timothy Liljegren
Mario Ferraro — Vincent Iorio
Sam Dickinson — Nick Leddy
Columbus Blue Jackets lines vs. San Jose Sharks
Look for 2024 draft pick Adam Fantilli to center the top line of Voronkov and Marchenko. In the net, we expect to see Jet Greaves according to NHL.com.
Forwards
Dimitri Voronkov — Adam Fantilli — Kirill Marchenko
Cole Sillinger — Sean Monahan– Danton Heinen
Boone Jenner — Charlie Coyle — Mathieu Olivier
Zachary Aston-Reese — Brendan Gaunce — Kent Johnson
Defense
Zach Werenski — Denton Mateychuk
Ivan Provorov — Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen — Dante Fabbro
Goaltenders
Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins
How to watch Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks Jan. 6, 2026
The puck drops at 7 p.m. PT/ 10 p.m. ET at SAP Center in San Jose.
Sharks fans can watch today’s game on NBCSCA or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
Blue Jackets fans can watch the game on the Fan Duel Sports Network or listen to the call on. 97.1 The Game.
If you’re not headed out to SAP Center to see the game, then be sure to come back here at game time to talk to other Fear the Fin fans about what’s happening on the ice. You can start spreading rumors about who should be traded and who should stay as the trade deadline approaches.
