GAME DAY PREVIEW: Canucks vs San Jose

Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks

Rogers Arena, Vancouver BC

When: 7:00 PM PST

Where to watch: Sportsnet, CBC, NBCSNA

Where to listen: Sportsnet650

SB Nation Game Hub

Opposition Blog: Fear The Fin

Remember the last time the Canucks scored? Me either. Maybe it’s just a symptom of the times, swirling vortexes of news that bombard us and make time seem to do funny things. Or maybe it’s just because I am old, but I can’t remember who scored the last goal for the Canucks. I should probably look that up, because we could be still referring to the player in question after the end of tonight’s contest as being the last Canuck to score a goal.

San Jose are sitting comfortably in a playoff spot, and with just 11 games left probably won’t make up the 7 points they trail Vegas by right now. But if you think the Sharks aren’t capable of another long playoff run, you might be wrong. They looked ready for the post-season as they dealt a serious blow to Calgary’s playoff aspirations, getting 4 goals from Evander Kane in a 7-4 win last night at the Saddledome.

There’s a lot of rumblings about the Canucks making a play for Kane in the offseason, but we’ll worry about that potential PR nightmare when we get to it. For now, there’s two things to focus on: Can the Canucks keep losing and secure the best odds for the 1st pick? And will they even score another goal this season, because while many of us are okay with the Canucks losing to try and secure that shot at Rasmus Dahlin, we’re not total masochists.

Jacob Markstrom will get the start for the Canucks tonight, and we’ll also see the return of Chris Tanev to the lineup, back after suffering a broken leg. Aaron Dell should get the nod for San Jose.

TANKWATCH 2018:

The day starts off with some good news, as Buffalo beat Chicago 5-3. That moves the Sabres to within 1 point of Vancouver, and 1 point ahead of Arizona. Arizona are playing the Minnesota Wild tonight. And with the Oilers beating Florida, it’s really starting to look like this team will have gone from 1st to worst in a mere 7 years. Arizona and Buffalo both play Monday, so with a little luck, the Canucks could be sitting in 31st with a loss tonight and on Tuesday against Vegas.

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

A nod to my favorite Irish thrashers, on St Paddy’s Day. Keep it relatively sane tonight, and remember: there is no justification for drinking green beer. Stop it.