Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks: Odds, Prediction
It’s a big challenge for Vancouver on Thursday night as they must travel to San Jose for a one-game trip in the second of a back-to-back against a Sharks team that’s hanging around in the Pacific Division race.
Canucks vs Sharks Betting Analysis
If the Sharks have any shot of catching first-place Vegas in the Pacific Division, San Jose has to beat the bad teams remaining on the schedule like Vancouver. It’s the fourth of five meetings between these clubs, with the Sharks visiting Rogers Arena on March 17.
San Jose won the first matchup at home on Nov. 11, 5-0, behind 41 saves from second-year goalie Aaron Dell. Logan Couture and Chris Tierney each scored twice for the Sharks. Jacob Markstrom was in net and was only charged with three of the goals as two were on an empty-net.
On Dec. 15 in Vancouver, the Canucks prevailed 4-3 in overtime – that was their only victory in a span of nine games. Sam Gagner beat Martin Jones on a breakaway at 4:34 of the OT. Markus Granlund added two goals, and each Sedin had three assists.
Finally, on Dec. 21 back in San Jose, the Sharks won 5-4 in overtime. Kevin Labanc scored 1:53 into OT and added three assists. Joe Thornton, now out injured, had two goals and an assist. Dell had 36 saves for San Jose and Markstrom 27 for the Canucks. In his career against the Sharks, Markstrom is 2-3-1 with a 3.67 goals-against average and .886 save percentage in six games. Those are some of his worst numbers against any club, but it’s looking likely he won’t play Thursday.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks (22-29-6) lost 4-3 at home to Florida on Wednesday – this writer projected a 3-2 Panthers victory. There were six goals scored in the first period, with Florida scoring three straight in just over a five-minute span after trailing 2-1. Canucks rookie sensation Brock Boeser made it 4-3 at 13:16 of the second with his 27th goal of the season, coming on the power play, but Vancouver couldn’t solve James Reimer again. Boeser has a point in three straight games. Markstrom was pulled after allowing those four goals in the first, and Anders Nilsson stopped all 20 shots he faced in relief. That leads one to believe it will be Nilsson in net here. He hasn’t won a game since late November.
San Jose Sharks
San Jose (30-19-8) suffered a bad loss on Tuesday, 2-1 at home to the worst team in hockey, the Arizona Coyotes, to fall 10 points behind Vegas in the Pacific Division. Alex Goligoski scored the winner at 9:35 of the second period. San Jose outshot the Coyotes 41-26, but the duo of Scott Wedgewood (he would get injured) and then Antti Raanta was strong in net for Arizona. Mikkel Boedker had the lone San Jose goal, his eighth of the season.
Jones had 24 saves for the Sharks, meaning it might be Dell’s turn on Thursday. San Jose thrives on special teams, ranking first in the NHL on the penalty kill and third on the power play. Centre Tomas Hertl is likely out for this game after leaving against Arizona with an undisclosed injury. He has 15 goals and 18 assists.
