Canucks Vs. Sharks: Canucks Hold Off Sharks With 5-4 Shootout Victory

If the Canucks and Sharks actually meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, this game proves that the series is going to be very entertaining.

The Vancouver Canucks got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period and were able to find a goal from Daniel Sedin to hold off the San Jose Sharks in a 4-3 victory on Thursday night. Alex Burrows got the scoring started for the Canucks at the 13:25 mark of the first period and Sami Salo score with a minute and a half left in the third period to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead after the first period. The Sharks scored quickly in the second with a Devin Setoguchi goal in the first minute of the period and a Ryan Clowe goal 1:07 later to tie the game at two. Mason Raymond scored at the five minute mark to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead which they held until late in the third period.

Torry Mitchell scored his first goal in over two months to tie the game in the third period for the Sharks. Mitchell’s goal was assisted by Kyle Wellwood and Ian White. Douglas Murray took an inadvertant high sticking penalty that really wasn’t eleven seconds later which led to a Daniel Sedin goal on the ensuing powerplay. The Canucks were looking to cruise to a victory until Alex Burrows took a holding the stick penalty with 35 seconds left in the game. That led to Ryan Clowe’s second goal of the night fourteen seconds later to tie the game at four.

After a scoreless overtime, Joe Pavelski scores the only goal in the shootout to give the Canucks a 5-4 victory over the Sharks.

Cory Schneider is the main reason why the Canucks were in this game at all. The Sharks were outshot 12-6 in the first period but turned their game around and outshot the Canucks 42-16 in the final two periods and overtime. Schneider ended up with 44 saves while San Jose’s Antti Niemi ended the game with 24 saves. Both teams had seven powerplay chances with the Canucks converting twice while the Sharks converted only once.

The Sharks will take on the New York Rangers on Saturday night while the Canucks will face the Calgary Flames. For more on this game, please visit our Sharks site, Fear The Fin, and our Canucks site, Nucks Misconduct.