Sharks at Lightning Preview: Gourde vs. Ferraro

Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe San Jose Sharks (15-13-2, 5th Pacific) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (13-10-3, 6th Atlantic) today at a strange point in both teams’ seasons. While the Sharks have been putting together better play lately compared to their brutal start, some of that success is impaired by less-than-ideal underlying numbers and a down-pillow-soft November schedule.

On the home bench, the Lightning have largely disappointed, at least at first glance. A Presidents’ Trophy-winning and near record-setting 128-point team last year, the Bolts were projected by Las Vegas odds makers to finish this season with 109.5 points, a total that was seen as…