SAN JOSE -– The Sharks and Canucks both likely enjoyed their Christmas breaks. What they didn’t enjoy was that first game back after the holiday layoff.
San Jose and Vancouver will both be trying to rebound from road losses in Southern California when they meet in an important Pacific Division showdown on Tuesday night at SAP Center. The Sharks will be attempting to quickly distance themselves from a 3-1 loss at Staples Center on Saturday, while the Canucks were not pleased with a 2-1 overtime loss in Anaheim on Sunday.
“We weren’t at our best. L.A. was much better in just about every area than we were,” Todd McLellan said. “I don’t know if it was the preparation thing or if it was execution, [or] a combination of both.
“We’ve had a couple days of practice, so I expect us to be better. The same thing can probably be said for Vancouver, coming off of Christmas break going on the road. … They’ll be better and be ready to play.”
Canucks coach Willie Desjardins saw his team surrender a 1-0 third period lead before succumbing to the first place Ducks, who now have an 11-point lead on the rest of the division
“We’ve got to be better. Last half of that game we didn’t play the way we wanted to,” said the first year head coach.
Desjardins also mentioned that he’s like to see his team be better than in its first trip here on Nov. 6, when Ryan Miller’s stellar play in goal was the only reason his club secured the two points. The Sharks held a 36-19 shot advantage in that game, including 80-23 in shot attempts.
The clubs enter tied with 43 points, although Vancouver has played two fewer games and is officially in second place in the division while the Sharks occupy third.
Tommy Wingels is hopeful his club can find a way through Miller this time around.
“Keep that pressure up, get as many shots as we did last game but be better, more opportunistic with them. Find a way to get them in,” Wingels said. “We missed a lot of good chances that game, odd-man rushes we didn't capitalize on. If we play that way and get that many chances, we're confident we can win."
One key to Tuesday’s game will likely be the Sharks’ second-ranked power play against Vancouver’s fourth-ranked penalty kill.
The Canucks have killed off 30 of 32 power plays against over the last 10 games, while the Sharks are 7-for-25 over the last 10 games (28.0 percent).
“We’ve got to have real good discipline,” Desjardins said. “They’ve got lots of skill on that power play and lots of different ways to attack you. We’ve got to stay out of the box, for sure.”
