Had the Sharks put on anything resembling a convincing effort against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday this preview would be filled with hubris and excitement for tonight’s game. Instead the Sharks looked pretty craptastic for most of the game and ~~barely escaped with an OT win~~ were screwed by the referees and lost in a shootout. If the Sharks take anger from anything into this game, it ought to be their awful second period and not a call the refs missed; but at this point, I’ll just be happy with a victory. They don’t even need to take 50 shots again! In fact, please do not!

We all know how many times the Sharks have beat the Canucks in a row, and few enjoy that more than I do. But the Canucks have played extremely well since the last time San Jose faced them and if the Sharks take them lightly, they’ll lose. Vancouver has been a top-10 possession team this season and are one of four good teams (assuming the Ducks are actually good this year) fighting for three playoff spots in the pacific division.

While I don’t feel spectacular about the way the Sharks played on Tuesday (or against the Kings, for that matter), I think it says something about the team that their first down-period results wise has resulted in three points in three games. That’s not a bad sign.

Tommy Wingels is expected to skate on the top line with Tomas Hertl and Joe Thornton, which is something I’m looking forward to. I would also like it if Brad Stuart and Mike Brown never skated for the Sharks again, but hey, that’s just me. #FreeJamesSheppard #FreeMattIrwin

The Sharks posted identical 4-1 scores in their first two meetings with the Canucks and after tonight will just have one more meeting with their new division foe (next Thursday). It’s a weird fluke in the schedule that the Sharks will play the Canucks four times before they face the Ducks once.