California is a great place, but it hasn’t been kind to the Canucks this season. After Thursday’s loss to Anaheim, the team entered the shark tank hoping to regain some of the confidence that carried them over the past few weeks. It might be too soon to say, but this team is beginning to show some shades of last year. Goaltending was solid, but the Canucks failed to score a goal. Sound familiar? The Canucks were shut-out 5-0 tonight in San Jose.

Shots: VAN 41 – SJS 31

Power play: 0/5

Penalty kill: 4/4

48 seconds into the first period, Tomas Hertl pushed his way behind Ben Hutton and was able to tap in the Sharks’ first goal past Jacob Markstrom.

The Canucks’ power play certainly did the team no good tonight, unless you’re the San Jose Sharks. On the power play with five minutes left in the second period, Daniel Sedin lost a battle to Hertl, who then sprung Logan Couture on a short-handed breakaway. 2-0 Sharks.

Couture sealed the deal with an empty-net goal with 1:30 left in the third period. 3-0 Sharks.

Just kidding. Chris Tierney added another empty-netter with 31 seconds left. 4-0 Sharks.

For some unbeknownst reason, the refs then decided to award a penalty shot to San Jose with seconds left in the game. 5-0 Sharks.

It’s a running joke that Jacob Markstrom needs to allow one soft goal before fully getting into the game. Tonight was no exception. After Couture’s goal in the first period, Markstrom was solid for the rest of the game. He did everything he could to keep the score close, but unfortunately for him, he got no goal support.

Loui Eriksson made his return to the lineup after missing 12 games with a knee injury. He was a penalty killer and played 5-on-5 with the Sedins, as per usual. Overall, he had a very good game and was arguably the Canucks’ best player tonight. He was second in TOI amongst forwards with 18:16, and he was tied for first on the team with five shots on goal. Eriksson has been an easy target for criticism since, well, his very first game in a Canucks uniform. However, do take a look at this as it’s something that needs to be reiterated more times than it has:

After a poor performance against Anaheim, the Canucks’ penalty killing was far more sound tonight. The power play… not so much. Not only did the Canucks go 0/4 tonight, but they allowed a short-handed goal which eventually killed any chance of a comeback. There was absolutely no momentum generated on the power play, and that may have something to do with the first unit consisting of Sedin-Sedin-Vanek-Gagner-Del Zotto.

Speaking of the power play, I can pinpoint a few deployments that certainly raise eyebrows. First, Sam Gagner. When he was with the Blue Jackets, he earned the reputation of being a power-play specialist from playing around the net. With the Canucks, he’s manning the point. Why not give him a chance and put him closer to the net? He’s shown he can excel there and, to be honest, the Canucks have nothing to lose. My next point is with regards to Thomas Vanek. As we’ve already seen in this short season, he’s got an incredible shot. Rather than making him the net-front presence, why not put him in a position where he can shoot?

The power play is in dire need of a change. Whether it be personnel-wise or making systemic adjustments, something must be done if the Canucks want to see any improvement.