Sharks in Danger of Losing Five in a Row
The Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks go head-to-head Thursday in a game that is nestled delicately on the NHL odds board, tighter than an accountant’s purse with the win up for grabs. Will the Canucks come through with the road win as the -105 underdogs, or will the Sharks come through as the small -115 home favorites?
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks Game Information
- Game: Vancouver Canucks (22-21-6) at San Jose Sharks (22-21-4)
- Location: SAP Center, San Jose
- Day/Time: Thursday, February 17, 10:35 p.m. ET
- Television: ESPN
Canucks Bank A Win
Another season, another frustrating campaign. Once again, the Vancouver Canucks are hobnobbing with the league’s stragglers and disappointments. All is not lost yet. There’s still time to recover and gain valuable ground, but the Canucks will need to perfect a positive turnaround.
The Canucks are 22-21-6, a mark that includes a modest 10-9-3 record at home and a 12-12-3 record on the road. Recent form features a 4-3-3 record capped off by a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Beating the high-flying Leafs could prove to be a catalyst for the Canucks as the season enters the final stretch. Indeed, the win represented an upset in the markets, as the Maple Leafs closed in betting online markets as the firm road favorites.
A big reason for the win was the stellar play of goalie Thatcher Demko who loomed large between the posts and stopped a whopping 50-plus shots. Incredibly, the Leafs outshot the Canucks 53-24 but lost. If that doesn’t underscore just what a difference-maker an in-form Demko makes, what does?
What a year and what a night for Thatcher Demko! 🔥
Earlier on #HockeyNight, @KellyHrudey broke down how the @Canucks goalie has been so successful between the pipes: pic.twitter.com/O49nRnORRd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 13, 2022
Sharks Sinking
The San Jose Sharks have lost four games in a row and they could be on the verge of losing a fifth game according to the odds at the sportsbook exchange.
The Sharks are 22-21-4, a record that includes an 11-10-2 mark at home and an 11-11-2 mark on the road. In their last 10 games, the Sharks have slipped to a 2-5-3 record which includes four straight defeats – three on the road and one at home.
The Sharks returned from a three-game road stretch, which included losses to the Florida Panthers (5-4), Carolina Hurricanes (2-1) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (3-2), and lost to the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Monday night.
Perhaps, the exhaustive road stretch and playing three of the league’s top playoff contenders took it out of the Sharks because they simply didn’t show up. They were outshot, outmuscled, and outplayed at every turn to the extreme disappointment of their fans.
in honor of the san jose sharks playing hockey today after a little break, i made this! pic.twitter.com/q8aNdt9iDK
— あや ניומן ✌🏼 (@jewishbuttercup) February 15, 2022
Canucks at Sharks Head-to-Head
The San Jose Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks are 5-5 in their last 10 meetings, the Canucks have won the last three meetings and five of the last six against the Sharks.
The last two games were decided by a 5-2 score in favor of the Canucks and both times Vancouver won on the road. This season, the Canucks have the 1-0 edge over the Sharks after clinching the 5-2 win on December 16.
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks Prediction
The Sharks skid into this Thursday’s contest with questionable form and confidence. Add to that a head-to-head record that tips the balance in favor of the Canucks, and betting the Sharks for NHL picks seems less and less attractive with each passing second.
The Vancouver Canucks aren’t exactly world-beaters. The offense and defense haven’t been consistent this season, while the team on the whole has made a habit of mediocrity. Thus, betting the Canucks to go back-to-back isn’t a sure play. That said, the Canucks have perked up since Bruce Boudreau took over from Travis Green behind a 14-6-4 record. And Demko was sublime the other night. That kind of play can infuse a team with much needed confidence.
With the playoffs fast approaching and the race to clinch the wild card sports heating up, this is a bit of a must-win game. The Canucks can take it against a beatable Sharks side.
