Canucks Visit Sharks In Pacific Showdown
Ryan Miller has had success in his first season in Vancouver.
Pacific Division rivals meet Thursday as the San Jose Sharks host the Vancouver Canucks in Northern California.
Opening faceoff at the SAP Center in San Jose is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Both the Sharks and Canucks enter the game amongst the best teams in the Western Conference and will be looking to earn a statement win in the first of five head-to-head meetings this season.
The Story So Far
Vancouver (9-4-0, 5-2-0 road) has enjoyed a surprisingly solid start to the season and sits behind only the Montreal Canadiens in terms of Canada’s best team right now.
After beginning the season 3-3, the Canucks have won five of their last six to move within three points of the division-leading Anaheim Ducks. Willie Desjardins’ side has also emerged successful in three of its last four on the road.
The Canucks defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 in the opening game of this four-game road trip. Nick Bonino found the net twice in the game, which saw the Canucks rally from a 0-2 deficit and score four third period goals.
Now Vancouver will look to continue its good form against a side it has struggled with in recent years.
San Jose (7-4-2, 2-2-0 home) was expected to play well this season and, barring a rough spot towards the end of October, has done exactly that.
Todd McLellan’s side began the season 4-01 before succumbing to four straight defeats between October 19 and 25. Since, the Sharks have posted a 3-0-1 record to climb back into contention in the Pacific Division.
The Sharks handed the New York Islanders a 3-1 defeat at the Shark Tank on Saturday. They’ll be looking for a similar result on Thursday.
Head-to-Head
Vancouver is 48-38-9-6 all-time against San Jose.
San Jose is 44-43-9-5 all-time against Vancouver.
The Sharks have owned recent meetings between the sides. In the past two seasons, the Sharks have won 10 of the last 11 meetings (including postseason).
Impact Players
The Sedin brothers have once more been leading the way for the Canucks. Henrik leads the team with 14 points, having garnered five goals and nine assists. Daniel meanwhile sits one-point behind having netted three goals and dished out 10 assists.
Center Nick Bonino leads the team with six goals while winger Radim Vrbata has tallied 12 points.
Goaltender Ryan Miller (9-1-0, 2.22 GAA) has been in net for all nine wins this season, posting a .917 save percentage. His counterpart, Eddie Lack (0-3-0, 4.19 GAA) has had no success.
San Jose is paced by Logan Couture’s six goals. The center has also added six assists. Center Patrick Marleau has registered 12 points, by way of four goals and eight assists. It’s defenseman Brent Burns that leads the way in points scoring though, having compiled 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) through the early part of the season.
Netminder Anti Niemi (6-2-1, 2.49 GAA) has posted a .923 save percentage.
Injury Report
Vancouver forward Tom Sestito (lower body) is out indefinitely.
San Jose is without forwards Mike Brown (hand) and Raffi Torres (knee), while defenseman Scott Hannan (upper body) is listed as day-to-day.
Check out the injury report in full
Will the Sharks continue their recent dominance over the Canucks?
Betting Report
Below you’ll find Betting Sports’ breakdown of odds and betting trends.
Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks odds for 11/06/2014
Moneyline: San Jose (-155) opened as the favorite over Vancouver (+130) on the moneyline and has seen its advantage stretch.
Winners of 10 of the last 11 head-to-head meetings, the Sharks will look to continue their recent dominance over the Canucks.
The Canucks earned a 4-2 win in their last trip to the Shark Tank (November 7, 2013).
Total: The total opened at 5.5.
Vancouver (7-4-2 O/U) has favored the over this season while San Jose (6-7-0 O/U) has marginally favored the under.
The total has gone over in nine of Vancouver’s last 13 games on the road, while the under has paid out in four of San Jose’s last six home games.
In the last five head-to-head meetings, the over has paid out three times, the under once, and one game finished with a push.
Three of the last four games between the sides at the SAP Center have seen the over pay out. The fourth finished with a push.
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