This is going to be a tough one for the Canucks. Both teams have 40 wins. Both goalies are either shooting for individual records. Luongo will try to set the Canucks' single season record for wins by a goaltender at 39 wins. Captain Kirk McLean had 38 wins. Evgeni Nabokov is chasing a shutout streak of 145 minutes and 7 seconds, a mark he set in 2003. Since allowing a goal with 6:10 left in the 3rd period in a loss to the Ducks on March 2, Nabby then shutout Dallas and Minnesota. Of course, he has not run into the streaky Jeff Cowan either. Cowan will look like he's lost complete control of the rubber, then kick it up to his stick and bury it. Let's see you stop that, Nabokov. hahaThe Sharks and Nucks have played eachother twice this season. San Jose won the first meeting 6-4 on October 13 and outshot the Nucks 37-26. But that was a Canuck team that was finding its identity. Their second meeting was a 3-1 win for the Canucks on January 28th. The Sharks outshot the Nucks badly again, 39-23, but this time Loungo was Luongod.
One thing is for sure, the Sharks' big guns have not had a great time against Vancouver this season.
-Joe Thornton, who has 6 assists in his last 5 games, has ZERO points against the Nucks this season and is a -3. Yeah baby.
-Jonathan Cheechoo has 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 5 games. Against the Nucks he looks more like a caboose, scoring ZERO points against Vancouver and is a -2.
-Patrick Marleau is back in the lineup after injury. He has 1 goal against the Nucks and is a +1.
-The biggest threat to the Canucks, on the scoresheet anyway, is Milan Michalek, who has 3 assists in the 2 games against us.
-The majority of the Sharks' scoring against us is from their 3rd and 4th lines because Vignealt's boys are shutting down the big guns.
-Bill Guerin has not registered a point since being acquired by the Sharks at the deadline.
So, let's not let these guys get going. A big thing, (as usual) but especially now against SJ, is to play disciplined hockey tonight. There is no point in letting Big Joe set up on the PP. This will especially be true if Iain McIntyre's mind-f**ker comment on Canucks PPV was true last night: that Luongo's record is .500 when returning after Sabourin starts. Thanks, Iain.
My prediction: I say 3-2 Canucks win. Cowan gets 6 shots and scores none. The Sedins and Pyatt line return to form....
I'm telling ya though, Boynton's hit on Cowan could have cooled Cowan's streak...we'll see.