SAN JOSE, Calif. — In a significant turning point, the San Jose Sharks ended their eight-game winless streak on Thursday night by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1.

Tyler Toffoli showcased his skills with a clever toe drag to net his 15th goal of the season midway through the first period, while Mario Ferraro contributed with a goal in the second, marking the Sharks’ first home victory since November 29.

Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov was instrumental, making 24 saves throughout the game.

Before this win, the Sharks had been struggling significantly, enduring a 0-7-1 record over their last eight games, and had achieved just a single victory in 12 contests since suffering an 8-1 defeat against Tampa on December 5.

On the other side, Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli managed to score, but Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Lightning’s goalie, also played well with 23 saves.

**Key Observations**

*Lightning:* Tampa Bay entered this California three-game road series with confidence, having won six out of their previous eight games, but they struggled to make a substantial impact against the Sharks on this occasion.

*Sharks:* In stark contrast to their previous humiliating defeat in Tampa, the youthful Sharks displayed a much more competitive spirit on their home turf against one of the league’s top teams.

**Crucial Moment**

During the third period, the Lightning almost leveled the score when Macklin Celebrini was penalized for roughing. While on the power play, Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman suffered an injury when a clearing attempt struck him in the ear. The puck deflected to Barclay Goodrow, who attempted a breakaway but was thwarted by Vasilevskiy. Unfortunately for Hedman, he had to exit to the locker room after the incident due to bleeding from the ear.

**Highlight Statistic**

Marc-Edouard Vlasic, a defenseman for the Sharks, played in his 1,297th career game, marking his debut for the season after recovering from an upper-body injury. He provided the primary assist on Toffoli’s goal and is now just three games away from joining the ranks of Nicklas Lidstrom and Ray Bourque as the only defensemen to have played 1,300 games for a single franchise.

**Looking Forward**

The Lightning will head to Los Angeles for their next match on Saturday night, while the Sharks are set to host the New Jersey Devils on the same day.