Music: {allcanada} CANUCKS (36-24-4) at SHARKS (32-25-8)

Friday, March 6, 2015

{allcanada} CANUCKS (36-24-4) at SHARKS (32-25-8)

ESPN Fantasy Baseball / Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Saturday, March 7, 2015

10:00 PM ET

CANUCKS (36-24-4) at SHARKS (32-25-8)

TV: CBC, CSN-CA

Season series: The Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks have split their first four games; however, the Sharks have won the past two, outscoring the Canucks 11-3. Sharks forward Matt Nieto had two goals and an assist in a 6-2 win Tuesday. Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom was pulled after allowing three goals on four shots in his season debut.

Canucks team scope: Forwards Chris Higgins and Nick Bonino took maintenance days from practice Friday and will be re-evaluated Saturday. Bonino has a goal and two assists in his past five games since returning from a lower-body injury Feb. 24. Vancouver has lost three of its past four games, including a 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. "Obviously, we're not happy just getting one point but if you look at the big picture, it could be a big point at the end of the season so we'll take it and move on," goalie Eddie Lack told The Province after the game. The Canucks are in second place in the Pacific Division with 76 points, two ahead of the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings. Lack has allowed 14 goals in his past five appearances since No. 1 goaltender Ryan Miller sustained a leg injury Feb. 22. The Canucks begin a five-game homestand Monday against the Anaheim Ducks. Vancouver has won its past three games at SAP Center.

Sharks team scope: San Jose starts a four-game homestand following back-to-back wins Monday and Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens at home and the Canucks in Vancouver. The Sharks (72 points) trail the Winnipeg Jets by four points for the second wild-card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference. Forward Ben Smith, who was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, has a goal, an assist and a plus-2 rating in his first two games with San Jose. "He has an energy to him. You're either giving energy off or you're sucking it. I think he gives it off. And I don't think that's going to go away," Sharks coach Todd McLellan told SFGate.com Friday. Forward Joe Pavelski has one goal and four assists during a four-game point streak.

Team Stats