Sharks @ Canucks - A Big Hertl To Climb

It has been one week since the season opener against the San Jose Sharks.  This time around, they make their first visit to Rogers Arena for the 2013-2014 season.  The San Jose Sharks have taken the last eight contests against the Canucks (including playoffs).  In my preseason rankings, I had the San Jose Sharks winning the Pacific Division.  Following Wednesday's practice, John Tortorella said that he "does not believe in a measuring stick."  I believe the Sharks are the measuring stick of the newly changed Pacific Division.  If the Canucks want to make it out of the Pacific, they need to beat the Sharks.  The Sharks do not have too many weaknesses, so this will be a true test of where the Canucks really stand in the division.

This game can be seen on CSN California or Sportsnet Vancouver at 10 PM ET/7 PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Sharks (the bad guys):

Forwards:
Patrick Marleau - Logan Couture - Joe Pavelski
Tomas Hertl - Joe Thornton - Brent Burns
Tyler Kennedy - John McCarthy - James Sheppard
Matt Pelech - Tommy Wingels - Matthew Nieto

Defensemen:
Dan Boyle - Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Justin Braun - Matt Irwin
Scott Hannan - Jason Demers

Goaltenders:
Antti Niemi (starter)
Alex Stalock

Canucks (the good guys):

Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Mike Santorelli
Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - David Booth
Dale Weise - Brad Richardson - Jannik Hansen
Tom Sestito - Zac Dalpe - Yannick Weber

Defensemen:
Alexander Edler - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Jason Garrison
Ryan Stanton - Christopher Tanev

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Sharks:

Tomas Hertl - he is the story of the week in the NHL.  The 2012 1st Round pick of the Sharks is already making a name for himself in the NHL.  He scored an amazing 4 goals in the Sharks rout of the Rangers on Tuesday night and has turned some heads around the league.  He leads the NHL in goals and points as of today.

Joe Pavelski - I love the way this guy plays.  He is the Sharks version of Ryan Kesler.  He can play in all situations and is a hound around the net.  He is versatile and can play centre or wing.  If Joe Thornton was not the Captain of the Sharks, Pavelski would be my nominee. 

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - the defensive backbone of the Sharks.  He is positionally sound and is a big time minute muncher on the blueline.  Adding to this, he is one of the smoothest skaters in the NHL.  The Twins and Kesler will have to play physical against him and skate hard to get around him.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Mike Santorelli - he has been called upon for top line duty in Burrows' and Kassian's absences.  He scored the game winner in overtime against the Devils after setting the screen against Cory Schneider and tipping a Garrison wrister.

Ryan Kesler - I hope he takes his own advice from last season's playoffs and competes like a bastard.  He needs to stop coasting and floating around the ice and needs to shoot and play physical.  He is the engine that drives the Canucks, so he needs to run like one.

Jason Garrison - He is the leading defensemen in points in the NHL.  He has been playing great hockey so far this season.  Garrison is throwing more pucks at the net using his wristshot, not just by using his wicked slapshot.  He will be partnered with Dan Hamhuis who has struggled as of late to provide a very good shutdown defensive pairing.  They will be very busy tonight against a Sharks team who throws a lot of rubber at the net.

Prediction:
4-2 Sharks Win (Hertl gets 2 more tonight)

Until next time, stay classy! -George

PS:  If you have not seen Hertl's 4 goal performance, here it is...