Bring It On SanHosers!
Some would argue the Canucks need the jaws of life right now, but they’ll have to settle for Jaws tonight as they play host to the San Jose Sharks.
It’s been a one-up one-down type of year for Vancouver as they’ve never been able to fire on all cylinders, never minding Ryan Kesler‘s injury woes.
It’s gauntlet time with 14 games in 26 games for the rest of March.
Here’s where the shortened season factors in. November has ended and February is beginning.
Matchup: Vancouver Canucks (11 – 6– 4) v San Jose Sharks (10 – 6–2)
Venue: Rogers Arena
Time: 7:00 pm PT
TV/Radio: Sportsnet, Team 1040
Game notes
The Sharks defeated the Canucks 4-1 in their only other game this year. Joe Pavelski had a pair while Patrick Marleau was going through his insane goal-scoring stretch. He’s since slowed down but still leads the team with 12 goals.
San Jose will find themselves in a building where they haven’t won in regulation since before the two teams met in the Western Conference final.
No word if Cam Barker will draw out of the lineup in favour of the stanchion.
What to watch: San Jose
The Sharks are coming off a 2-1 victory over Nashville Saturday night, and will one eye towards a contest in Calgary tomorrow night.
February wasn’t pretty for the Sharks with just two regulation wins and the Sharks sit sixth in the conference, around the upper quarter of a a twelve team train that sees just six points separating third place Vancouver with 14th place Edmonton.
The West is shaping up to be a high stakes game of musical chairs.
The West is shaping up to be a high stakes game of musical chairs.
Line-up
- Logan Couture-Joe Thornton-Martin Havlat
- Tim Kennedy-Patrick Marleau-Joe Pavelski
- Ryane Clowe-Scott Gomez-James Sheppard
- Andrew Desjardins-Adam Burish-T.J. Galiardi
- Matt Irwin-Dan Boyle
- Brad Stuart-Marc-Edouard Vlasic
- Douglas Murray-Justin Braun
- Antti Niemi
What to watch: Vancouver
The Canucks find themselves at the head of that train, but there’s still two months of hockey left and the entire Northwest Division is lurking behind them.
The Canucks have been very good against their division this year and need to keep that up to win the division and get a prime playoff position, but their middling record against the rest of the West needs to improve as well considering those are the dangerous ones come playoff time.
Meanwhile goaltenders around the league are getting injured in droves and the trade deadline is just a month away….
If not a goaltender, Keith Ballard?
Line-up
- Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Alex Burrows
- Chris Higgins-Mason Raymond-Jannik Hansen
- David Booth-Maxim Lapierre-Zack Kassian
- Tom Sestito-Jordan Schroeder-Dale Weise
- Dan Hamhuis-Jason Garrison
- Alex Edler-Cam Barker
- Andrew Alberts-Chris Tanev
- Cory Schneider / Roberto Luongo
Injuries
It’s back to popcorn livin’ for Ryan Kesler for six weeks, after which upon returning he’ll most likely contract grout.
Brent Burns is still MIA for San Jose and is timeline is indefinite, much like our universe and his love of owning snakes.
Tommy Wingels is also out along with Martin Havlat.
Prediction
We win.
Game Day Tweets
Does your desktop need a facelift? March wallpapers are ready. v.canucks.com/z0O6lJ #Canucks
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) March 5, 2013
Cory Schneider gets the start in goal tonight for the #Canucks
— Sportsnet Pacific (@SNETPacific) March 5, 2013
Ready. Set. Go. Check out Cory Schneider’s brand new mask for Millionaires night on March 16. v.canucks.com/102ELw6 #Canucks
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) March 5, 2013
#canucks Ballard says he’d rather had limited role on a winning team than extended role on a losing team. He’s been there. #canucks
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) March 5, 2013
Ballard is in. He spent 20 mins talking to media. Says he didn’t play well enough before scratch, intends to win back spot 2nite #canucks
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) March 5, 2013
No Bieksa at #canucks skate. All lines same as from CGY. Ballard-Alberts-Barker all taking turns on 3rd D-Pair.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) March 5, 2013
#Canucks Dale Weise will play in career game 100 against the #Sharks.
— Sportsnet Pacific (@SNETPacific) March 5, 2013
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About Richard Hodges
