This one is truly a tale of two teams. The Sharks have won both of the head-to-head matchups this season on their way to the playoff spot they currently hold. It is a much different story for the Canucks.

The season cannot end fast enough for Canucks fans. Vancouver sits in the cellar of the NHL with 39 points and a league-worst .375 point percentage. It’s a bad feeling in Canucks-land right now, and the Sharks are in a great spot to capitalize once more.

Sharks vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds

The Sharks are the favourites on the NHL odds board, which is just the third time they’ve been favourites all season. San Jose is -125 to win outright and +180 to cover the -1.5 puck line, while Vancouver is +105 on the money line. The Over 6.0 is slightly juiced at a -130 price compared to the Under’s +105 odds; the Over is 15-8-1 in Vancouver’s 24 home contests this season.

San Jose is the better team in this game, which isn’t exactly a revelation. They hold a playoff spot 50 games into the season, have won six out of their last nine and nine out of their previous 13 games, and have already proven to be a tough matchup for the Canucks with two wins over Vancouver by a combined score of 9-5. I can’t wrap my head around this game being close to a pick ’em.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are not without flaws. They rank 30th in the NHL in goals allowed per game, and although they are playoff contenders, San Jose has a negative goal differential. That’s an aspect of their game they need to clean up if they are going to still be playing meaningful games come spring.

Fortunately for the Sharks, their matchup in this game ranks 28th in the league in goals scored per game and 32nd in goals allowed per game. San Jose’s three losses in their last nine games came to Vegas, Detroit, and Tampa. Those losses are no indictment on the Sharks, as those are top teams in the NHL. If San Jose holds to their 6-3 form over the past two weeks, they should not have a problem beating the Canucks again.

Vancouver Canucks

Not to pile on too much, but there is really no way around it. The Canucks are just bad. This team already had an uphill battle to contend with, and then they traded Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood. The results have been those of a rebuilding team.

Vancouver has just one win in their last 14 games, including consecutive losses entering this game. They put forth strong efforts against the Devils and Penguins this week, but still fell short. A lot has to go right if they are going to win this one.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Sharks vs. Canucks?

It’s easy to tell where this is going. Yes, the Canucks are just too easy a fade for over a month now. In addition to the star players they already traded, there are other Canucks names floating in trade rumours. That is never easy for a team to deal with and only furthers distractions. The Canucks are not a team deep enough to overcome distractions. 

Vancouver has been a reliable fade against most teams in hockey; San Jose will not be an exception. The Sharks are a talented team in good form that has already beaten the Canucks twice when Vancouver was a better, more complete team. Unless they completely mail it in, San Jose should be able to take care of business and deal the Canucks their 16th loss in their last 18 games by a score of 5-3.