Sharks at Rangers
The San Jose Sharks answered a fruitless performance with a dynamic one in their last outing, scoring eight goals to improve to 2-1-0 on their five-game road trip. The Sharks aim to continue their momentum at Madison Square Garden on Thursday when they face the reeling New York Rangers, who were gashed for eight goals in their last contest.
After dropping a 4-0 decision to the New York Islanders on Monday, San Jose scored twice during an 11-second stretch early in the first period the following night en route to an 8-2 romp in Philadelphia. "Sometimes that back-to-back game, you feel better for whatever reason," said captain Joe Pavelski, who tallied twice during the Sharks' four-goal first period. San Jose's offensive outburst accounted for its most goals scored since it netted nine versus the Rangers on Oct. 8, 2013. New York didn't do much better in its last outing, as it fell to 0-3-0 for the first time since 1998-99 with an 8-5 setback to Carolina on Sunday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (2-2-0): Kevin Lebanc, who was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Staten Island, matched a franchise record with four assists in San Jose's romp over Philadelphia. "We came in with a little bit of a chip on our shoulders. We didn't want the game in Brooklyn (against the Islanders) to affect our game (Tuesday). We came in really positive and focused and ready to take this game over," the 22-year-old Labanc said. Evander Kane, who tallied twice versus the Flyers to double his team-leading goal total, was held off the scoresheet in both meetings with the Rangers last season.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (0-3-0): New coach David Quinn isn't afraid to move pieces around in search of his first NHL win, as evidenced by his shuffling all four lines in practice on Wednesday. "I'm taking some chances on a couple things, some hunches that I might have, and that we have as a staff," Quinn said. "I guess with a new staff, you're trying new things, and talking to guys and getting a feel of what pieces of the puzzle might fit together." Pavel Buchnevich, who traditionally is a right wing, will be moved to the left side with center Mika Zibanejad and Jesper Fast on the top line.
OVERTIME
1. New York's Jimmy Vesey, who joined fellow LW Chris Kreider by tallying twice on Sunday, registered his first career NHL goal and point against San Jose at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17, 2016.
2. Sharks G Martin Jones has turned aside 53 of 56 shots en route to posting a 1-1-0 mark in three career appearances against the Rangers.
3. New York owns a 5-2-1 mark in its last eight contests versus San Jose, but the clubs split the two-game series in 2017-18.