Game Preview: Sharks At Canucks
(AP) -- The Vancouver Canucks felt so good about their current roster that they didn't feel the need to make a major move at the trade deadline despite goaltender Ryan Miller being on the shelf for an extended period.
A seemingly minor acquisition has already helped the San Jose Sharks improve their playoff hopes.
Vancouver seeks a fourth victory in five tries while looking to avoid a seventh consecutive home loss to the Sharks on Tuesday night.
The Canucks (36-23-3) sit in second place in the Pacific Division, five points ahead of Calgary, Los Angeles and San Jose (31-25-8). Forward Zack Kassian had been rumored to be on the trade block for some time but remained with the club past Monday's deadline.
Vancouver made a pair of minor deals, acquiring Cory Conacher from the New York Islanders and Sven Baertschi from Calgary with no player from the NHL roster being traded away.
That's just fine with coach Willie Desjardins.
"There's lots of things in this group that I like," Desjardins said. "We have good chemistry in the room. One of the reasons I think the Sedins (twins Daniel and Henrik) are playing with so much passion is because they believe this team can do well."
Yannick Weber had a goal and an assist and Henrik Sedin scored Sunday against St. Louis, which rallied from three goals down in the third period before the Canucks won 6-5 in a shootout.
Eddie Lack has gone 2-1-0 in the three contests since Miller suffered a lower-body injury that will keep him out four to six weeks. Lack made 40 saves to beat Boston 2-1 last Tuesday but has allowed five goals in each of the last two.
"I was thinking to myself, 'If the boys score five for me and we can't win, there is something wrong,'" Lack said. "It was a weird game
The Canucks won the first two meetings before San Jose earned a 5-1 road win Feb. 5. The Sharks have won six straight in Vancouver, including the postseason, and have outscored the Canucks 11-3 over the last three at Rogers Arena.
San Jose, though, has gone just 3-7-1 since beating Vancouver and is fighting for an 11th consecutive playoff berth. It acquired forward Ben Smith from Chicago for Andrew Desjardins on Monday, and Smith delivered a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win over Montreal later that night.
Smith, who didn't have a point in his last 25 games with the Blackhawks, went through a morning skate with Chicago earlier in the day before flying to San Jose and arriving shortly before game time.
"I don't think too many guys take their pregame skates half a country away and land and throw your gear on and have that type of game," coach Todd McLellan said. "I think that speaks volumes about Ben's character, first of all. It would be easy to have a built-in excuse about fatigue and what-not. I think he was really excited about being here. It energized the group."
The Sharks, who had lost eight straight at home and have played two more games than the Kings and Flames, also sent forward Tyler Kennedy to the Islanders and forward James Sheppard to the New York Rangers for draft picks in separate transactions.
Alex Stalock made 20 saves as Antti Niemi got the night off. Niemi, who likely will be in net for this contest, is 2-6-1 with a 3.13 goals-against average since stopping 33 shots to beat the Canucks.
Niemi is 11-2-0 with a 1.87 GAA in his last 13 against Vancouver, including the playoffs.
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