The Sharks are finally back on the ice for a game tonight as they play host to the Vancouver Canucks at the SAP Center.
Let’s have a quick look at the tale of the tape:
Vancouver
Record: 9-4-0 (2nd Western Conference) Current Streak: 1W GF/game: 3.23 (3rd League) GA/game: 2.77 (17th League) PP: 20.8% (9th League) PK: 88.2% (4th League)
San Jose
Record: 7-4-2 (7th Western Conference) Current Streak: 1W GF/game: 3.00 (8th League) GA/game: 2.54 (14th League) PP: 25.0% (4th League) PK: 82.5% (13th League)
The Canucks position in the Standings is deceiving. Their all-around play hasn’t been that of a team deserving of 2nd in the Western Conference, but that’s where they stand. Don’t believe me? How about this statistic for you:
The Canucks are 4-4 against teams that aren’t named Edmonton, Carolina or Calgary.
In other words, thanks to the schedule, the Canucks are cooking the books in the record department and haven’t been tested by top NHL teams other than their losses to Tampa Bay, Dallas and a win against St Louis while the Blues were struggling.
Like the Sharks, they’ve struggled between the pipes over the start of the season and sit in the bottom half of the league in goals against per game. That’s good news for San Jose’s talented offense.
This game is going to be a battle of special teams with the Canucks in the top five for PK and top ten for PP and the Sharks sitting in the top five for the man advantage. Shot placement will have to be a high priority 5v5 and 5v4 if the Sharks want to come away with a victory tonight. They simply can’t afford to let PP opportunities slip away against a Canucks team that has had little trouble finding the back of the net this year. It won’t be easy given Vancouver’s impressive penalty kill but the Sharks have offensive weapons capable of scoring goals in bunches.
Game Notes:
- Sharks Forward Chris Tierney has been assigned to Worcester in the American Hockey League to make room for Tyler Kennedy’s return from injury. - Dave Pollak of the San Jose Mercury tweeted out the following line combinations from the morning skate: 8-19-83/12-39-57/48-15-81/10-37-89(20). For defense the combinations should look like this: Vlasic-Braun/Burns-Mueller/Hannan-Demers. - Todd McLellan announced yesterday that Antti Niemi will be in the cage again.
Kennedy’s arrival to the bottom six is much anticipated as the Sharks look for more skill within their role players. Tierney being the odd man out doesn’t surprise me as Goodrow has been the favorite of the two since camp opened. The Hertl-Sheppard-Kennedy line has a chance to be an offensive threat but will still be relied on in a defensive manner.
From what Pollak tweeted it seems as though Todd McLellan is contemplating John Scott’s availability for tonight as his bro-mance for the 6’8… Gretzky replica continues.
Matt Irwin finds himself the odd man out on defence with Scott Hannan appearing to be fine after his brush with the dasher-boards almost a week ago. Prior to the season starting the consensus was that Hannan would split time between the ice and the booth but as the season progresses that definitely isn’t the case. Hannan has found a regular role in the lineup much to the surprise of every single person that covers the Sharks.
Keys to the Game:
Don’t play Burns/Mueller against the Sedins
They are both still developing as NHL defencemen. If they find themselves on the ice with the Twins it could be a very bad shift for either Niemi’s equipment or the twine wrapped around the goal posts. After the Canucks top line there aren’t any offensive players that worry me so the 88/41 combination should be able to roam freely otherwise.
Line match-ups are important against top teams and with the advantage of last change Todd McLellan is going to have to be on his A-game if the Sharks want to leave tonight with two points.
Exploit Canucks Lack of Depth
The Canucks aren’t deep, there’s no two ways about it. They’re worse off in the depth department than the Sharks are so San Jose needs to exploit that and attack the zone with tenacity when the Canucks top unit isn’t on the ice. Taking chances are strongly encouraged.
If McLellan can get the Couture line out against any of the Canucks bottom nine it should be a good night for 39 and company.
Fast Start
San Jose needs to get ahead early and avoid digging themselves a hole. As the games have worn on this year they’ve punished their own goaltender by allowing a barrage of shots against. The more shots Niemi faces the more exhausted he becomes. When he becomes exhausted he stops making saves that he would normally make.
If San Jose is forced to play catch up while Niemi remains under relentless attack they will have a hard time equalling the score late in the game.
Attack the opposition like they did in the first few games of the season and don’t let up.
It should be an interesting game between Pacific Division rivals and an opportunity for the Sharks to prove that they are still a Western power by knocking off a team ahead of them in the standings.
Puck drop is 10:30pmET(7:30pmPDT).
Thanks for reading.