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CANUCKS ARMY GDT 58 – CANUCKS @ SHARKS
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Always90four
Feb 15, 2018, 15:45 EST
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The NHL shows no mercy with its schedule as the Vancouver Canucks have to forget about their loss one night ago, hop on a late flight, and focus on their new opponent the San Jose Sharks. Both teams have struggled in their last ten games with the Sharks going 4-5-1 and the Canucks posting a 4-6 record. The Canucks have shown signs of growth but have regressed in other areas at the same time.
San Jose has the third-best power play, and the top-ranked penalty kill in the NHL, so the Canucks have their work cut out for them: stay out of the box and score when given a chance.
Let’s Do This!™
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:30 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Philip Holm and Nikolay Goldobin are both with the team, but it’s tough to say who sits. Derrick Pouliot had a noticeable game yesterday while many of the forwards factored in. For the sake of goal scoring, Nic Dowd might be a guy that sits for Goldobin or maybe even Loui Eriksson. Holm could take Pouliot’s spot if only for a game.
Anders Nilsson earned a start at the very least this evening. His relief performance against the Panthers warranted some extra work. Jacob Markstrom may have had an off night, but at this point in the season, the Canucks aren’t winning much so spread the games around.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
Tomas Hertl is a game-time decision but likely out. Brandon Mashinter, Tim Heed, and Danny O’Regan have been sent down to… San Jose where they will resume playing with the Barracuda.
Martin Jones should be the likely starter. Aaron Dell hasn’t been awful against the Canucks though. Tough to say who they’ll let go… the whole game. See what I did there?
San Jose Sharks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
  • Vancouver’s goaltenders have not fared well against the Sharks. Since the beginning of the 2016/17 season, Jacob Markstrom has the only win against San Jose which includes Ryan Miller and Richard Bachman all getting starts. All three goalies have sub .890 SV% and above 3.14 GAA versus the Sharks. Start Anders Nilsson would be the moral of the story here.
  • Having a defence that boasts Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and forwards that help keep the puck out of the defensive zone has paid off for the Sharks. They are T-2 for the few shots allowed per game with 30.1. Vancouver is averaging one more shot allowed per game, but over the course of the season, those shots seem to turn into goals against, which San Jose has the 9th fewest.
  • Brock Boeser has eight points in his last nine games with two multi-point efforts. He probably won’t win the Calder now that Mathew Barzal has opened a can of whoop-ass on the NHL, but Brock is giving him a run for his money. Boeser does need to be a bit more involved on the forecheck which could help him climb to the top of the standings.
  • Apparently, the Canucks do not know the way to San Jose. They are winless at the HP Pavillion in their last four visits and have only one victory in their last eight in either city. Stats are not on the Canucks side this evening, but hey, the Stars lost pretty bad, right?
  • Don’t look now but Boeser is four power-play goals back of the NHL lead. Amazing to think he wasn’t even on the power play to begin the season. He also wasn’t even in the lineup for the first two games. Who thinks he can win it?
THE TWITTER TAKE
Yup, enjoy that rebuild.
MY 94 CENTS
San Jose is right in the mix of things in the Western Conference while the Canucks are just happy to be in the NHL some days. Vancouver just about came back against Florida last night, but for a game like that to even be close, goaltending must improve. Giving up four goals in the first period would bury most teams on most nights so the Canucks will need to be disciplined with and without the puck if they want to hang around for 60 minutes tonight.
The Sharks should still be the pick to win this one.
OVER / UNDER
Brandon Sutter faceoff wins (+/- 12)  Sutter has been quite effective in the faceoff circle lately and is pushing above 57% in two of the last three games prior to the Panthers game. Take the under though, but not by much.
Alexander Edler points (+/- 1)   You would never believe it with all the hype around Edler not passing to Brock Boeser on the power play, but overall he’s the points leader on the Canucks since January 1. However, he only has four points in February. Tough to go either way but I feel like the over is a good play this evening.
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