National Post (National Edition)
Vancouver Canucks prepare |for San Jose Sharks’ bite.
In drawing the Sharks in the first round, the Canucks face a team they have a history with
Asked about possible playoff opponents late last week, Vancouver canucks coach alain Vigneault shrugged and said simply: “pick your poison.”
Well, sharks aren’t exactly venomous but the canucks know from experience they have some bite.
When the san Jose sharks and Vancouver meet in the first round of the national hockey league playoffs, the sharks figure to reflect on the fact they beat the canucks in all three meetings this season.
But the canucks will remember that they knocked off san Jose in five games in the Western conference final two years ago.
defenceman kevin Bieksa certainly hasn’t forgotten.
“yeah, we won that series,” deadpanned Bieksa, who capitalized on a fortuitous bounce and scored the series-winner in double-overtime two years ago.
“that was a good time. i think every game was pretty close except for the one that got away. i don’t think we expected to beat those guys in five. i think we expected to go to seven games and that’s kind of the way we’ll approach it again.”
san Jose goalie antti niemi seemed to reference Bieksa’s goal when he talked on the weekend about meeting the canucks again.
“it’s a tough city to play in,” niemi said. “We lost two years ago and remembering those games, they were a little lucky, they got a few lucky goals. hopefully, we’ ll get a few bounces this time.”
Bounces may well determine this series again because on paper the two teams seem evenly matched. Only two points separated them in the standings and both teams are tough to beat at home. the sharks were 17-2-5 at the hp pavilion. But their achilles heel is their play on the road, where they won only eight of 24 games.
the canucks did struggle against the sharks this season, gaining only one point from three meetings. the sharks beat the canucks 4-1 back on Jan. 27 in san Jose and defeated the canucks 3-2 in a shootout on March 5 at rogers arena. the sharks won the series finale 3-2 on april 1 in san Jose.
“Obviously you think of Joe thornton, a big centreman,” canucks winger Jannik hansen said of the sharks. “they are a very talented team, very good on the power play, they come really hard at you, especially in their rink. it’s a team we have seen a lot so there is not going to be a whole lot of surprises. you are going to know what to expect from them.”
canuck captain henrik sedin suggested with a smile the sharks should perhaps be the favourites considering their success against Vancouver this season.
“Maybe we could put the pressure on them, then,” henrik said. “could we?”
But henrik acknowledged that what happened in the regular season becomes ancient history once the playoffs begin.
“you can be successful against a team and then you play them in the playoffs and it’s a totally different series,” he said.
the canucks drew the sharks in round 1 after the los angeles kings beat san Jose 3-2 on saturday night to grab the fifth seed in the West. Many observers have suggested the sharks were a preferable opponent to alternatives like the more physical kings and st. louis Blues.
Of course, no one in the canuck organization was suggesting anything like that.
“they are a good team, i don’t think there really was any team we wanted to play,” Bieksa said. the sharks are not as big a team as they once were after unloading mammoth defenceman douglas Murray, physical winger ryane clowe and 6-foot-5 centre Michael handzus at the trade deadline. But former canuck raffi torres — who separated thornton’s shoulder with a big hit in the 2011 series — was acquired by the sharks to help fill that void.
the sharks are led by their big four up front in thornton, patrick Marleau, logan couture and Joe pavelski.
“Obviously the first thing that comes to mind playing Vancouver is what happened a couple of years ago,” said couture, who lead the sharks with 21 goals this season. “it’s going to be fun to go up to canada and start the playoff there. We’re all excited.
“We are going to have to play well against them, they are a good team. they have a lot of skill. their d-men chip in offensively and move pucks well. it should be a good match-up.”