Thursday February 15 - San Jose Sharks 4 - Vancouver Canucks 1

The Vancouver Canucks have a way of bringing out the best in the San Jose Sharks goaltenders. Despite firing 44 shots on Martin Jones, the Canucks dropped a 4-1 decision in the Shark Tank on Thursday night. Here are your highlights:



The game was reminiscent of Vancouver's 5-0 road loss to the Sharks back in November, when the team fired 41 shots on Aaron Dell. Though the Canucks are averaging just 30.1 shots per game this season, sixth fewest in the league, they've tallied 40 or more in all four of their games against San Jose this year, even though the Sharks are tied for fifth-fewest average shots allowed per game, at 30.3. So it's not like they do this all the time.

Travis Green did try to freshen up his lineup on the second half of a back-to-back set. Alex Biega subbed in for Ben Hutton and up front, Sven Baertschi was scratched to make room for Nikolay Goldobin on the first line with Horvat and Boeser.

Green said scratching Baertschi was no big deal.

Green on Baertschi's scratch last night in SJ : "He's disappointed. I don't think he was shocked. We go back a long way. I have a lot of belief in him & I still do. But I also know him as a player & know him when he's on & when he's not. I want him to be ready next time he's in."

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 16, 2018

Baertschi did have two assists again Florida on Wednesday. All told, he's 4-4-8 in 16 games since returning from his broken jaw, a bit below his scoring pace from earlier in the season.

Of course, that could have something to do with his linemate Boeser cooling off, too. Brock got just one of his four shot attempts on goal on Thursday and has scored just six of his 27 goals in the Canucks' 19 games since the beginning of 2018.

With 24 games left in the season, Boeser's still tracking to break Pavel Bure's franchise rookie scoring record of 34 goals, but he's running out of cushion. Mat Barzal also assisted on all three goals in the Islanders' win over the Rangers on Thursday and is now up to 16-46-62, 13 points ahead of Boeser in the rookie scoring race.

Anyway. Baertschi did respond well after he was healthy-scratched by Willie Desjardins last season, so hopefully we'll see the same outcome this time around. Green will need everyone playing their best when the red-hot Boston Bruins roll into Rogers Arena on Saturday.

FYI...

Green flat out refuses to answer @patersonjeff's question about whether it was a healthy scratch for Baertschi or protection of a trade asset. He guffawed.

— Blake Price (@BlakePriceTSN) February 16, 2018

Not sure Goldy did enough to secure a place in the lineup on Saturday night. He managed five shot attempts, two of them on goal, but wasn't especially dangerous.

It was another good night for the penalty kill, which went 3-for-3 against a Sharks team that's ranked fourth in the league with the man advantage. Since Darren Archibald joined the Canucks four games ago, the penalty killers have gone 10-for-11 while shorthanded. The team had given up at least one goal on the PK in six of seven games before that, so that's one area that's showing tangible improvement even as the Canucks' record drops to 2-6-0 so far in the month of February.

The team's lone goal on Thursday did earn high style points, as the Sedins combined with Thomas Vanek for some old-school tic-tac-toe magic.

Perfect pass from @T_Vanek26. 💨
Perfect finish from Daniel. 🚨#Canucks down 3-1 with 11:17 to play. pic.twitter.com/D2dnEVaZlr

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 16, 2018

In addition to his six shots on goal, a ferocious Daniel led the team with five hits on Thursday. What???

“There are nights when you play well and you lose. We feel that’s the case tonight. Sedins and Vanek showed a lot of character. Daniel looked like he was 25 out there.” - Coach Green

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 16, 2018

Checking in with the trade market, we did see two minor deals on Thursday, but the Dion Phaneuf transaction earlier this week didn't exactly shake the market wide open.

It's tough to sell for top prices when lots of other teams are trying to do the same.

Checking in around the league on the available non-rental trade deadline players. One GM described it as a heavy buyers' market now: "There’s lots of sellers. Of every different shape and size. The buyers are saying there’s a [poop]load out there." https://t.co/CHIJrwAUOf

— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) February 16, 2018

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic is reporting that talks between the Canucks and Erik Gudbranson's agent will heat up over the next "week or so." I should hope so! The trade deadline is a "week or so" away—both sides will need some clarity very soon on whether there's a deal to be made.

Since moving up last week onto a pairing with Alex Edler, Gudbranson is playing his biggest minutes as a Canuck—and not looking like he's out of his depth.

Does that say "He's valuable enough to sign to top-four money" or "Look, other teams, he's valuable enough for you to trade a first-rounder because he'll be able to play in your top four?" Either read seems plausible at this point. His showcase is going reasonably well.

To close today—some encouraging words from Beanpot MVP Adam Gaudette as he gets closer to completing his junior year of college.

Gaudette : "Loyalty is big to me. I grew up in a household that taught the importance of loyalty, self-respect and respect of others. The Canucks & Northeastern saw something in me and trusted me and something I won't forget and use to repay them back." #Canucks

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 15, 2018

Gaudette wouldn't commit to making the jump to the NHL this season—nor should he. But those words should go a long way toward easing concerns that he might play out his NCAA eligibility next year in order to reach free agency and choose where he plays.

Gaudette's coach at Northeastern offers big praise, but also some words of warning...

Madigan on Gaudette turning pro, "The bigger the game, the bigger he plays. Adam could have a 10 year career in the NHL, he might also have to spend time in AHL which is a great league for 1st year pro players. " #Canucks

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 15, 2018

Madigan on Gaudette signing in Van, "I caution people, what Boeser is doing coming out of college is special. Adam still has things to improve, college will allow him to do that" #Canucks

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 15, 2018

Still, it seems like the transition from college comes more easily for NCAA players in today's NHL. Gaudette is teasing plenty of potential that he'll become a quality pro.

Gaudette's Northeastern Huskies get back to work after their Beanpot win against Vermont this weekend.

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