Canucks at Sharks
THE STORY: A pair of division leaders in the Western Conference face off Wednesday as the Vancouver Canucks meet the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion. Vancouver, which holds a one-point lead over the Minnesota Wild in the Northwest, is beginning a three-game road trip. The Canucks have won four of their last five games overall and are 6-1-1 in their last eight on the road. San Jose is wrapping up a six-game homestand during which it has posted a 4-1-0 record. The Sharks, who share the top spot in the Pacific with the Dallas Stars, have earned at least one point in six of their last seven contests (4-1-2).
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TSN, CSN California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (22-12-2): Vancouver will be without Chris Higgins as the left wing did not accompany the team on its three-game tour of California due to an undiagnosed hand injury. Higgins, who played in Monday's victory over the Edmonton Oilers, was forced to go to the hospital Tuesday due to increased swelling. The 28-year old missed two games earlier this month with a staph infection on his foot, which the Canucks believe is same problem with his hand. "We're not exactly sure what it is, but we're sort of assuming that it's the same thing he had on his foot," coach Alain Vigneault said.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (19-11-3): San Jose scored a total of 17 goals in winning the first four games of its homestand. It is the club's second-highest total in a similar span this season, as it tallied 18 times in four contests between Dec. 13-21. Defenseman Colin White notched an assist against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday before leaving the 3-2 loss with a hand injury. The veteran is questionable for Wednesday's contest. Fellow blue-liners Douglas Murray (hand) and Jim Vandermeer (upper body) have missed 10 and nine games, respectively.
OVERTIME:
1. Vancouver has won 20 of its last 26 meetings with Pacific Division opponents.
2. The Sharks have lost six of the last seven overall matchups between the teams and four of five meetings in San Jose.