Vancouver and San Jose meet for the second time this season in a clash of two Western Conference rivals. San Jose won the first meeting back in January. Their previous win against the Canucks was part of a 7-0 run that turned into a 2-6 February. The Sharks will look to regain speed in March as the Canucks hold a two-point lead on top of the Northwest Division standings.
San Jose is on a stretch where nine of their 11 games will be played on the road. The Sharks are excelling in the penalty kill, yielding five goals in opponents' last 61 chances. They face a Vancouver power play that is currently 0 for 2 in its last five games. San Jose was able to hold both Sedin brothers without a point in their first meeting with the Canucks which is what helped lead to the win. The Sharks power play has been struggling though. The club had their first game of two power play goals in the last 15 contests. Joe Thornton has a goal and six assists during a six-game point streak for the Sharks and will help the team gain back momentum in March. The team's goaltender Antti Niemi has been on a hot streak allowing two goals or fewer in 12 of his 17 starts this season.
The Canucks have seen mixed results in their last 10 games, going 4-4-2, recently losing their last three of four games. Goalie Roberto Luongo is playing well at home going 3-0-2 with a 1.33 goals-against average in five home starts this season. Backup Cory Schneider has never started at home against the Sharks, his 4.08 GAA in five outings is his highest versus an West club team. The Canucks have two players, Henrik Sedin and Chris Higgins, on four-game point streaks. Vancouver has fared well in the past against San Jose. They are 10-2-2 in the series, including a five-game victory in the 2011 Western Conference finals.
San Jose is currently sixth in the Western Conference standings and will need to pick things up in March in order to have a guaranteed playoff spot at the end of the season.
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