Lightning at Sharks
THE STORY: The San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning, conference finalists last season, are both still trying to find a rhythm. Each has rebounded from rough stretches to win two straight as they prepare to meet in San Jose on Wednesday. The Lightning had lost seven of eight before beating Calgary in overtime Thursday and edged Columbus on Saturday. The Sharks had dropped seven of nine before starting a six-game home stand with victories over Colorado and Edmonton. The answers might come on the power play, where both have struggled after finishing in the top six last season. Tampa Bay is 4-for-32 and San Jose 3-for-34 the last 11 games with the man advantage.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa), CSN-CA (San Jose).
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (14-16-2): Marty St. Louis continues to get closer to a return from facial and nasal fractures, but 21-year old Steven Stamkos has taken the lead in his absence. Stamkos has four goals and three assists in the last three games, giving him 269 points in 275 career games. Versatile forward Nate Thompson left the game Saturday in the first period with a lower-body injury and is day to day. Tampa Bay has also struggled on the penalty kill of late, allowing eight goals the last six games. Goalie Mathieu Garon has started nine of the last 12 games.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (17-10-3): San Jose has plenty of balance offensively, but the Sharks could use more consistency. Part of that is due to a lackluster power play and the pressure of making up for one of the worst penalty-killing units in the league. Joe Thornton leads the way with 26 points and Joe Pavelski has a team-high 13 goals and 25 points. Forward Martin Havlat suffered a lower-body injury against Edmonton and is not expected to play. Goalie Antti Niemi has quietly put up some solid numbers with 13 wins and a .917 save percentage.
OVERTIME:
1. San Jose has beaten Tampa Bay five of six meetings since the lockout.
2. Tampa Bay defenseman Eric Brewer snapped a 47-game goal drought Saturday.
3. San Jose is second in the league in face-off percentage at 53.9.