If the Canucks cannot beat the struggling and banged-up Sharks, then their present mini shedding streak will tackle new that means
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San Jose Sharks (3-13-1) at Vancouver Canucks (12-5-1)
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When/the place: Monday, 7 p.m., Rogers Enviornment
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
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The excitement: The second two-game shedding streak of the season is an even bigger concern than the primary. The Canucks misplaced 2-0 in Philadelphia on Oct. 17, and two nights later in Tampa Bay, there have been enhancements in a 4-3 setback. The present mini-regression concern — a listless 5-2 loss in Calgary on Thursday and error-filled 4-3 effort Saturday in opposition to Seattle — raises purple flags.
The Canucks’ zone exits have been sluggish and sloppy Saturday. They couldn’t penetrate the impartial zone. They misplaced battles. They didn’t draw an offensive-zone energy play by attending to the online and inflicting havoc. They defended poorly and compelled Thatcher Demko to have this head on a swivel for seam passes and backdoor performs.
Canucks Report
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And there was extra. Unproductive and inattentive winger Andrei Kuzmenko was benched for a stretch within the second interval to ship a message. It wasn’t heard.
“Our (line) modifications have been terrible and so they lose you video games and playoff collection,” harassed Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “Lengthy shifts. That’s .500 hockey. You possibly can’t win that approach. There are not any excuses. They have been hungrier on pucks and principally that was the sport.”
The historical past: The toothless Sharks needs to be the proper tonic to snap the Canucks to consideration. They slaughtered the Sharks 10-1 on Nov. 2 in San Jose as Quinn Hughes collected a career-high 5 factors (1-4) and the ability performs struck for 4 objectives. The Sharks put up little resistance and seemed extra like an AHL workforce.
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The hope: The Canucks have been efficient on the reset, whether or not getting off to a sluggish begin or trailing after a interval. It’s why they strung collectively a five-game win streak this month to ascertain themselves as a playoff contender versus pretender. They should revert to these “non-negotiable” Tocchet methods staples.
The worry: Wanting previous the Sharks in anticipation of an enormous litmus take a look at Wednesday in Colorado. The Avalanche are harm riddled, however have received 4 straight and their 11-5-0 document speaks to being third in objectives scored and fifth on the penalty kill. They’ll damage you with velocity, energy and execution.
The highest weapons: That terrific trio remained atop NHL scoring with 28 factors apiece coming into Sunday play. J.T. Miller (11-17), Elias Pettersson (8-20) and Quinn Hughes (7-21) have set a blistering tempo. Hughes is one purpose shy of his finest purpose output established in 2019-20 and matched in 2021-22.
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The wounded: Canucks: Carson Soucy (foot, six to eight weeks), Pius Suter (undisclosed, day-to-day), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, LTIR). Sharks: Logan Couture (decrease physique, IR), Nico Sturm (private), Oskar Lindblom (decrease physique, IR), Jacob MacDonald (undisclosed, IR), Matt Benning (undisclosed) IR), Alexander Barabanov (finger fracture, IR), Mitchell Russel (undisclosed, IR).
The quote: “Our defence was getting drained and also you want your wingers to snap into folks. I felt we have been just a little sluggish. There have been 4 or 5 guys who simply weren’t able to win a battle.” — Tocchet on 4-3 loss Saturday.
The lineup:
Mikheyev-Pettersson-Kuzmenko
Di Giuseppe-Miller-Boeser
Joshua-Blueger-Garland
Hoglander-Lafferty-Beauvillier
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Hughes-Hronek
Cole-Juulsen
Hirose-Myers
The prediction: If the Canucks can’t beat the banged-up Sharks, who’re surrendering probably the most objectives per outing and have the fourth-worst penalty kill, then this two-game shedding streak takes on a lot larger that means. The Canucks do the collective reset and win 5-2.
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