It’s another big game for the San Jose Sharks, who will face another of the top teams in the NHL tonight. The Vegas Golden Knights come into town this evening for the second night of back-to-back games. The Sharks are going to have to have short memories after an exhilarating 5-4 overtime win over the Dallas Stars yesterday. The good news for the Sharks is that Vegas played yesterday as well and has the slight disadvantage of playing later (the Golden Knights finished an evening game with the St. Louis Blues last night, and also have to travel to San Jose for the game).
This is San Jose’s chance to get the proverbial monkey off its back. The team has had strange issues with Vegas this season and for several seasons in the past, and has lost all three head-to-head matchups so far. On opening night, on Oct. 9, San Jose lost 4-3 in overtime. Then on Nov. 29, the Sharks lost 4-3 again. The Dec. 23 game was especially painful as it wasn’t even close. That one was a 7-2 beatdown that the Sharks would like to atone for.
Jack Eichel remains the team’s top scorer with 46 points in 36 games. Mitch Marner also has 46 points, though it took him 43 games to do it. Mark Stone has 38 points in 27 games. Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev lead the team with 16 goals apiece.
The Vegas power play is operating at 25.4%, fifth best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is at 81.2%, 12th best in the NHL.
There’s a mental aspect of this game that can’t be overstated. The Sharks have only won 7 of the 37 games these two teams have played in the regular-season. That’s not great.
San Jose Sharks lines today
Making some assumptions, but I don’t think the lines change much unless John Klingberg is ready to go today. I know Will Smith is practicing, but this isn’t really a game that I’d like to see him back in. So we’ll go with the same lines.
Making some changes based on what San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng is reporting (I will apologize, I’ve been watching the 49er game).
Per Warsofsky, Misa will play 3C, Gaudette will slide down to 4W.
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 11, 2026
Klingberg will be on PP2.
Should be no other line-up changes
John Klingberg returns and Nick Leddy is out. Ryan Reaves sits. Michael Misa plays. You have to wonder if this means if there’s another contract move coming soon. Yaroslav Askarov is in the net since Alex Nedeljkovic went yesterday.
Forwards
William Eklund — Macklin Celebrini — Igor Chernyshov
Pavol Regenda — Alexander Wennberg — Tyler Toffoli
Jeff Skinner — Michael Misa — Collin Graf
Barclay Goodrow — Zack Ostapchuk — Adam Gaudette
Defense
Dmitry Orlov — Timothy Liljegren
Mario Ferraro — John Klingberg
Sam Dickinson — Vincent Iorio
Goaltenders
Yaroslav Askarov
Alex Nedeljkovic
Vegas Golden Knights lines vs. San Jose Sharks today
For the Golden Knights, goaltender Carter Hart is injured, so he’s not an option today. Akira Schmid started last night’s game, so expect to see Carl Lindbom tonight. Lindbom is 1-4-2 with a .870 goals against average. William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb and Brandon Saad are also out because of injury.
Forwards
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Mark Stone
Reilly Smith — Mitch Marner — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — Tomas Hertl — Keegan Kolesar
Cole Reinhardt — Colton Sissons — Branden Bowman
Defense
Noah Hanifin — Zach Whitecloud
Jeremy Lauzon — Shea Theodore
Ben Hutton – Kaedan Korczak
Goaltenders
Carl Lindbom
Akira Schmid
How to watch Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks Jan. 11, 2026
The puck drops at 5 p.m. PT at SAP Center in San Jose.
Sharks fans can watch today’s game on NBCSCA or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
Golden Knights fans can watch the game on The Spot-Vegas 34 or stream on KnightTime+. They can also list on FOX Sports Las Vegas 94.7/1340.
If you’re not going to the game (which I suspect is sold out like yesterday’s game), then be sure to come back here at game time to talk about what’s happening on the ice.
And remember, F**k Vegas must be always. Go Sharks.
