> On Killer Instincts And Lack Thereof: You can argue the Canucks are beginning to slip, or perhaps just regressing to the mean of an average NHL team juggling injuries, missed opportunities, travel woes and plain old bad luck. Pick your poison, but the Canucks will look to get back on track against a perinnel powerhouse in San Jose who has strung together two strong games after couging up some laughers before that (5-2 to Edmonton and 4-2 to Toronto). Will the real team please stand up?

> Our Shark Attack: Shirokov has a great first NHL goal against the Wild and didn’t look out of place with Kesler and the slumping Samuelsson. With the rest of the bottom forwards struggling (Tambellini, Raymond, Malhotra, Torres) it would be a hidden blessing if Shirok can get on a roll that saw him break a franchise record in Manitoba for consecutive games with points (11) and add some timely production to help Vancouver enter the ASG break on a high note.

> Impress Your Friends With Knowledge!: The Canucks are 15-3-3 at  Rogers Arena this season and remain 7-0-2 in regulation in their last nine games at home.