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Lightning visit Sharks eyeing rare three-game win streak

Jan 13, 2009 - 2:28 PM Tampa Bay (13-19-10) at San Jose (31-5-5)

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- After a turbulent start to the season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are finally beginning to turn things around.

The Lightning go for their third straight win on Tuesday when they visit the NHL-leading San Jose Sharks.

The campaign started with high hopes as Tampa Bay's new ownership group brought in coach Barry Melrose, who led the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993, and selected Steven Stamkos with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft.

However, the team reversed course just 16 games into the season, firing Melrose after three straight losses that dropped the team's record to 5-7-4 out of the gate.

Stamkos also started slow and has struggled in his first NHL season, recording four goals and 10 assists. The 18-year-old center snapped a five-game point drought by logging an assist during Monday's 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

It was the third win in four games for Tampa Bay, which is 6-3-1 in its last 10 contests overall and is on the verge of only its third three-game win streak this season.

Unlike the Lightning, the Sharks have been rolling along and continued their winning ways on Saturday, logging back-to-back wins with a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

Captain Patrick Marleau scored a pair of goals in the third period against the Canucks, registering his second straight two-tally performance.