Preview: Sharks (34-22) at Canucks (24-26)
Date: March 03, 2016 10:00 PM EDT
The San Jose Sharks seem poised to reach the playoffs while the Vancouver Canucks are not, although this week may feel sort of like a postseason series for both.
They play the second of three meetings in a seven-day span Thursday night in Vancouver, as the Canucks will try to slow down the red-hot Joe Pavelski better than they did a few days ago.
San Jose is brimming with confidence thanks to a 7-2-2 surge that has boosted its playoff chances. Joe Thornton has 16 points in that span and Pavelski 10.
'You can just feel the energy that the team brings every night,' center Chris Tierney said. 'We're in a good spot right now and hopefully we build up to the playoffs and try to make a run at it.'
The Sharks (34-22-6) have won consecutive games in which Pavelski has five points, including one goal and one assist in Sunday's 4-1 victory at Vancouver. The Canucks (24-26-12) took the lead into the third period before the Sharks responded with four players scoring.
San Jose had five players score in Monday's 6-2 victory over Montreal, with two goals by Pavelski.
'Any night it can be another line doing the damage," Thornton said. "It's fun to be a part of, and when you're winning it's obviously fun. We've got a real deep team and it's an exciting team to watch right now.'
It's a team that the Canucks will also watch Saturday night in San Jose to complete this odd bit of scheduling.
Vancouver is enduring a 2-6-0 stretch that has likely doomed any hopes of returning to the postseason. The Canucks fell to 2-2-0 on a five-game homestand with Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to the New York Islanders despite a 33-24 edge in shots.
Captain Henrik Sedin says that Vancouver fans need to remain patient. The Canucks have indicated they may give increased ice time to rookies Jake Virtanen and Brendan Gaunce down the stretch.
'You've got to look at the big picture,' Sedin said. 'That's to realize where we are as a team with the (young) guys we have. You've got to look forward and try to come in every day and teach and be positive and try to get better. We can't lay down flat and just play out the rest of the season."
Sedin has 11 points in his last nine games while brother Daniel has 10 in the past eight.
Jannik Hansen, third on the team with 32 points, is uncertain after sitting out Tuesday with an undisclosed injury. Fellow winger Radim Vrbata, who is fifth with 24 points, has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury.
Sunday's game continued an unusual trend in this series in which the visiting team has taken the last nine matchups. The Canucks are 0-4-2 in their last six at home against the Sharks.
San Jose's Martin Jones had never faced Vancouver before he made 23 saves earlier this week. The Canucks' Ryan Miller has allowed eight goals in losing his last two starts to the Sharks after beating them seven straight times.
Date: March 03, 2016 10:00 PM EDT
The San Jose Sharks seem poised to reach the playoffs while the Vancouver Canucks are not, although this week may feel sort of like a postseason series for both.
They play the second of three meetings in a seven-day span Thursday night in Vancouver, as the Canucks will try to slow down the red-hot Joe Pavelski better than they did a few days ago.
San Jose is brimming with confidence thanks to a 7-2-2 surge that has boosted its playoff chances. Joe Thornton has 16 points in that span and Pavelski 10.
'You can just feel the energy that the team brings every night,' center Chris Tierney said. 'We're in a good spot right now and hopefully we build up to the playoffs and try to make a run at it.'
The Sharks (34-22-6) have won consecutive games in which Pavelski has five points, including one goal and one assist in Sunday's 4-1 victory at Vancouver. The Canucks (24-26-12) took the lead into the third period before the Sharks responded with four players scoring.
San Jose had five players score in Monday's 6-2 victory over Montreal, with two goals by Pavelski.
'Any night it can be another line doing the damage," Thornton said. "It's fun to be a part of, and when you're winning it's obviously fun. We've got a real deep team and it's an exciting team to watch right now.'
It's a team that the Canucks will also watch Saturday night in San Jose to complete this odd bit of scheduling.
Vancouver is enduring a 2-6-0 stretch that has likely doomed any hopes of returning to the postseason. The Canucks fell to 2-2-0 on a five-game homestand with Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to the New York Islanders despite a 33-24 edge in shots.
Captain Henrik Sedin says that Vancouver fans need to remain patient. The Canucks have indicated they may give increased ice time to rookies Jake Virtanen and Brendan Gaunce down the stretch.
'You've got to look at the big picture,' Sedin said. 'That's to realize where we are as a team with the (young) guys we have. You've got to look forward and try to come in every day and teach and be positive and try to get better. We can't lay down flat and just play out the rest of the season."
Sedin has 11 points in his last nine games while brother Daniel has 10 in the past eight.
Jannik Hansen, third on the team with 32 points, is uncertain after sitting out Tuesday with an undisclosed injury. Fellow winger Radim Vrbata, who is fifth with 24 points, has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury.
Sunday's game continued an unusual trend in this series in which the visiting team has taken the last nine matchups. The Canucks are 0-4-2 in their last six at home against the Sharks.
San Jose's Martin Jones had never faced Vancouver before he made 23 saves earlier this week. The Canucks' Ryan Miller has allowed eight goals in losing his last two starts to the Sharks after beating them seven straight times.
