Lightning plus $1.25 at Sharks

Fighting for their playoff lives, the Lightning consider their current six-game road trip crucial. The Lightning have stepped up, too, both on defense and in goal with Ben Bishop back from a lower body injury and looking like his old self.

Tampa Bay has permitted just seven goals during regulation in its last four games. Despite missing top defenseman Victory Hedman the past two games - and first two games of this trip - the Lightning nipped the Kings 2-1 and lost to the Ducks, 2-1, in overtime on Tuesday.

The Lightning were idle on Wednesday, while San Jose skated to a tough 3-2 overtime victory against its rival the Kings. So the Lightning draw the Sharks without rest and with the possibility that Hedman may return for this game.

Tampa Bay has revenge, too, for a 3-1 home loss to the Sharks on Nov. 12. That was the sixth straight time the road team has won in this series.