Canucks vs Sharks Betting Preview

Vancouver heads to San Jose aiming to stack wins for the first time in more than a month. Their 5-4 victory in Anaheim ended a stretch of six losses in seven games. Max Sasson had a goal and an assist. Filip Hronek added two helpers. Their late push sealed an important start to the trip.

Nikita Tolopilo delivered 37 saves in his season debut. He replaced Kevin Lankinen, who missed the game for personal reasons. Tolopilo became the fourth Canucks goaltender to start this season, reflecting their instability in net since Thatcher Demko’s lower-body injury earlier in November. Vancouver has allowed the second-most goals in the league and continues battling inconsistency in their defensive layers.

San Jose took a step back Wednesday in a 6-0 loss to Colorado. The Avalanche extended their winning streak to 10. San Jose produced only 26 shots and their young core struggled with Colorado’s pace and structure. Yaroslav Askarov allowed four goals before being pulled. Alex Nedeljkovic finished the game.

The Sharks previously carried momentum with an improved stretch and steady scoring from Macklin Celebrini. The rookie entered Wednesday with points in five straight and nine of his last 11 games. He remains tied for second in the league in scoring and anchors San Jose’s attack.

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Line Movement and Odds

Canucks -116, Sharks -103
Total: 6.5

The market remains tight. Vancouver’s early movement reflects their stronger power play and scoring pace.

Track adjustments on the NHL odds page.

Matchup Breakdown

Vancouver overview

Vancouver’s 5-4 win over Anaheim showed urgency and improved finishing. Sasson delivered a strong game. Hronek drove their transition with two assists. Tolopilo’s performance steadied their back end.

Their scoring holds strong. They rank inside the top 10 in goals and sit fourth in power-play goals with 19. Their issues arise in their defensive zone. Their rotations break down under pressure. Their goaltending has been thin with Demko out and Lankinen unavailable. Their tandem of Tolopilo and Patera has limited NHL experience.

Elias Pettersson leads with 21 points. Kiefer Sherwood adds physicality and tempo. Vancouver needs aggressive puck support and cleaner exits to control pace.

San Jose overview

San Jose’s 6-0 loss to Colorado reflected the gap between their young core and elite competition. Their structure faltered early and their puck management weakened under pressure. Askarov was pulled in the second period.

Despite the setback, their broader trend remains encouraging. They entered Wednesday on a 5-game points streak. Celebrini leads with 14 goals and 20 assists. His pace drives their scoring. Their block rate ranked near the top of the league and helps stabilize their defensive end.

Their power play sits inside the top 10 with 15 goals. They have the home-ice advantage and the confidence of a roster learning quickly under Ryan Warsofsky. They need cleaner neutral-zone execution and better rebound control to settle in against Vancouver’s rush pressure.

Injuries

Canucks

• Teddy Blueger — Out, undisclosed
• Guillaume Brisebois — Out, lower body
• Filip Chytil — Out, upper body
• Thatcher Demko — Out, groin
• Derek Forbort — Out, undisclosed
• Nils Hoglander — Out, lower body
• Kevin Lankinen — Questionable, personal
• Jett Woo — Out, upper body

Full roster details available on the Vancouver Canucks page.

Sharks

• Logan Couture — Out, hip
• Ryan Ellis — Out, back
• Michael Misa — Out, lower body
• Carey Price — Out, knee
• Jeff Skinner — Out, undisclosed

Team overview available on the San Jose Sharks page.

Betting Trends

• Canucks 8-2 O/U in last 10
• Canucks 2-8 ATS in last 10
• Sharks 7-3 ATS in last 10
• Sharks 0-5 O/U in last five
• Canucks 4-1 O/U in last five
• Sharks 53.3% ATS as underdogs

Best Bets and Prediction

Vancouver’s scoring depth and power play give them the edge. San Jose can counter with Celebrini’s pace, but the Sharks’ recent defensive regression is concerning. Tolopilo’s composure provides Vancouver stability they lacked earlier in the month.

Projected score: Canucks 4, Sharks 3
Best Bet: Canucks -116
Total Lean: Over 6.5

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