Good lord, will they score again?

The Vancouver Canucks will be desperate to score a goal, any kind of goal, as they host the San Jose Sharks tonight, having gone three straight games without finding the twine.

THE BIG MATCHUP

Canucks offence vs. history

It’s been 212 minutes and nine seconds since the Canucks last scored a goal. If they go one more period and an additional three minutes tonight without putting one in the net, it will set a new franchise record for playing time without scoring. In other words, they need a hero to escape a historic run of futility. Who will step up? Who is capable? Bo Horvat has 18 goals and Daniel Sedin has 21. After that, their next-highest scorer in the lineup is Jake Virtanen with eight.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Kane vs. Canucks fans

There are fans in Vancouver who have spent many years drooling over the idea Evander Kane would one day be a Vancouver Canuck. There are also fans who don’t think it’s such a good idea to bring in the man with the bad-boy reputation. The goal-scoring forward is set to be a free agent July 1. Since joining the Sharks at the trade deadline, he has six points in seven games. Would the Canucks consider the former Vancouver Giants star this summer? It’s believed the opinion is split among the Canucks’ brass.

2.

Hansen vs. Goldobin Sometimes a trade doesn’t work out for anyone. Jannik Hansen has face-planted since arriving in San Jose on the eve of last year’s trade deadline. Since the Sharks traded for Kane in late February, Hansen hasn’t played, becoming a regular healthy scratch. He doesn’t think he’s a fit with the Sharks and many in Vancouver don’t think Nikolay Goldobin, who Hansen was traded for, is a fit with the Canucks. If Goldobin has progressed this season, it hasn’t been by much.

3.

The Horvat line

Horvat knows he’s undermanned on that top line. We all know he’s undermanned on that top line. He can’t control his wingers. Just like he can’t control calls from officials. What he can do is work to try to draw penalties. He can drive the net more and keep those feet moving in the corners and behind the net in attempts to force defenders to make plays on him. That’s when you get hooking calls. Horvat vowed he’s going to simplify his game, which should mean less creativity and more shots on net.

4.

Splitting the Sedins

It’s wild this has been such a nonstarter with the past three coaches. When Alain Vigneault first led this team, splitting the Sedins was among his go-to moves when he was trying to generate momentum or trying to send messages. They were fine on other lines, too. In fact, one of the reasons Henrik Sedin won the Hart Trophy is because he went on a goal-scoring binge when Daniel was hurt. There’s nothing to lose in trying it now.

5. The mental approach

Head coach Travis Green said no one in his locker-room is focused on the scoreless streak. He said it’s a lot like playoff hockey for other teams this time of year. And that’s the sell to his group, which includes seven youngish forwards who need to prove they’re NHL players.