BoT Gameday: Canucks @ Sharks

Well, a beginning and an end for the Sharks tonight. They begin a home and home series with the Vancouver Canucks tonight at the Shark Tank. It also ends their six game homestand and their 2011 portion of their schedule.

San Jose comes off a lackluster 3-2 loss to Anaheim on Boxing Day, where the team had a tough time shaking the cobwebs off after the league mandated Christmas break. Vancouver has taken advantage of Minnesota’s losing streak and have vaulted up to the top of the Northwest Division. Canucks beat writers have already said that Roberto Luongo will start tonight and that both Canuck netminders are suffering from minor injuries.

For Team Teal, it looks like Antti Niemi will get the start in net, while defenseman Douglas Murray will return after a 10-game layoff do to an upper body injury. However, Colin White may go onto the injured list with an upper body injury of his own.

Once again, a huge test for the San Jose Sharks. They obviously have to jump out to a better start. The Sharks also need to create more scoring chances, bother Luongo, and stay disciplined. The Canucks will make you pay on their power play and have some of the best faceoff men in the NHL.

WHAT IF…
…the Winter Classic was between the Sharks and Canucks?

Well, I’m glad you asked. It would be a VERY colorful look for the classic, as I would expect Vancouver to break out their “Flying V” jerseys:

I think you need sunglasses to look at those jerseys. These are based on the early 80’s style Vancouver wore. The Canucks were in these uniforms when they made their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

As for San Jose, while the original style jersey seems perfect for the Winter Classic, went back and created an idea of a fauxback. This jersey is based on the original uniforms of their Bay Area NHL predecessor, the Oakland Seals. Personally, I love this look. Retro, yet modern with teal and black in there.

Head writer ALH Gist will be heading to Philadelphia, making sure to cover the journey (and subsequently make me envious) of her hockey adventures, so stay tuned right here for the latest on our San Jose Sharks at BladesOfTeal.com or on twitter: @BladesOfTeal