NHL Preview: Sharks Swim Into Vancouver

San Jose Sharks (2.35) at Vancouver Canucks (1.63)

The Canucks (29-10-7) return to Vancouver this evening to begin a four-game home stand at Rogers Arena, beginning with a key matchup against the San Jose Sharks (23-19-5).

The Canucks have won both previous meetings with the Sharks this season and are attempting to sweep a season series with San Jose since the Sharks entered the NHL 20 years ago. It is expected that Vancouver will ice the exact same lineup that lost 4-3 (overtime) in Colorado on Tuesday night — that includes rookie LW Sergei Shirokov, who looked good in his season debut and scored his first-ever NHL goal in the process. It’s believed that Shirokov could even see some second-unit power play time alongside Alex Burrows and Mikael Samuelsson.

As for San Jose, they’ll be looking to build on a two-game winning streak, comprised of back-to-back 4-2 wins over the Blues and Coyotes respectively. Prior to the winning streak, San Jose had lost six in a row and fell out of the Western Conference playoff picture for the first time in recent memory. It’s been a topsy-turvy year in San Jose, and that continued this week when GM Doug Wilson made a pair of intriguing roster moves, trading for Atlanta Thrashers tough-guy Ben Eager and picking up former Canuck C Kyle Wellwood off waivers. The pair is expected to play together on the same line.

The reason for Wellwood and Eager jumping straight into the lineup is the myriad of injuries San Jose has suffered up front. RW Benn Ferreiro missed Monday’s game because a cut near his left eye was impairing his vision. He’s listed as day-to-day and should he dress against the Canucks, will likely play alongside Wellwood and Eager.

Sharks RW Torrey Mitchell was placed on IR on January 13 with a groin strain and is out indefinitely. It’s been a re-occurring problem for Mitchell this year — he missed five games in late December with the same problem. Teammate Ryane Clowe, San Jose’s rugged LW, is dealing with an ankle injury that forced him to miss his second straight game Monday night against the Coyotes. No word on whether or not he’ll be skating tonight.

As for Vancouver’s injuries:

— D Andrew Alberts (shoulder), D Aaron Rome (knee) and C Alex Bolduc (shoulder) will likely be out for the next few weeks. Alberts is probably the most likely for a quick return after spraining his A/C joint; Rome will take a little longer with a MCL sprain and Bolduc’s season could be in jeopardy after he suffered his third shoulder separation in the last two years.

— D Sami Salo continues to practice and travel with the team after required surgery to repair a torn Achilles’ tendon in the off-season, but by all reports is still a ways away from returning to the lineup. Salo hasn’t imitated any physical contact in practice.