The Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks each lead their respective divisions and face off in potential Stanley Cup Playoffs battle. The Canucks have won two of the three previous matchups this season, but the Sharks won the most recent one in Vancouver.
Canucks Vs. Sharks: Conference Leader Faces Off Against Hottest Team
The Sharks and Canucks have some of the best goaltenders in the league this season. The Canucks have had success with both Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider this season. Luongo has a 2.22 goals against average with a .925 save percentage this season and a 0.96 goals against average against the Sharks this season. Cory Schneider has a 2.14 goals against average and a .928 save percentage this season and will get the start tonight against the Sharks. San Jose has had success with Antti Niemi who is 1-2 against the Canucks this season. Our Sharks site, Fear The Fin, had this to say about goaltending in the Western Conference today:
The second reason goaltending serves some importance today is the fact that Nashville's Pekka Rinne has stymied the Sharks all season long, and without Patrick Marleau's goal in overtime last night, might as well done it again. Coupled with the fact that Vancouver, who boasts a tandem of Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider that, is on the docket tonight, it only makes sense to highlight some netminders in the Western Conference that have the potential to do what so many others have done in seasons past.
Carry their team to a playoff win without getting much help.
The Canucks have been on top of the Western Conference for much of the season but one player is much happier that he is playing for the Sharks this season. Kyle Wellwood played for two seasons for the Canucks before heading over to San Jose and had this to say about playing in San Jose:
“I just think Vancouver has a few more lessons to learn and I’m glad I’m in San Jose,” Wellwood said. “I just feel they’re more mature because they’ve lost a few more times. They’re not so scared of losing.”
This is also coming from a player who has only played in twenty games with the Sharks. Game time is 10:30 pm Eastern and for more information on this game, please visit our Sharks site, Fear The Fin, and our Canucks site, Nucks Misconduct.
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