Sheppard tallied a late goal as San Jose moved

(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Jose Sharks aim to extend a four-game point streak tonight as they host the Vancouver Canucks in the first matchup of the season between the Pacific Division rivals. Listen to all the action live on TSN Radio 1040 beginning at 5:30pm pt. The Sharks avoided a third straight loss on home ice with Saturdays 3-1 win over the New York Islanders. Logan Couture netted the game-winning goal with 8:10 to play and Antti Niemi came up with 19 saves. On the winning goal, Marc-Edouard Vlasic sent a pass across the blue line to Justin Braun, who had his slap pass re-directed into the top of the net by Couture at the right side of the net. I knew I was trying to tip it and get it up. I was lucky it got in, said Couture. Great look by Braun. Tomas Hertl scored on the power play and James Sheppard tallied a late goal as San Jose moved to 3-0-1 over its last four games. San Jose lost defenseman Scott Hannan to an undisclosed injury late in the first period and his status for this game is unknown. Niemi, meanwhile, will make his fifth straight start and is 9-7-2 with a 2.64 goals against average and .913 save percentage in 18 prior starts against the Canucks. The Sharks won three of four versus the Canucks last season and have claimed seven of the past nine meetings overall. Vancouver did snap a three-game series road slide in its last trip to San Jose and comes in having won five of its last six overall. The Canucks rallied to beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Tuesday to open a four-game road trip. The Canucks trailed 2-0 after the first period, but finally got on the board with four seconds left in the second frame and then scored four times in the final frame. Nick Bonino had two of those goals. Vancouver failed to score on its first 26 shots before Henrik Sedin got his club on the board with a rebound goal in the final seconds of the middle period. I think in the second we just took the game over, said Vancouver forward Shawn Matthias, who scored unassisted with 6:50 to play to cap the scoring. It just seemed like we were rolling the lines and cycling the puck well. All four lines were going. Ryan Miller made 20 saves for Vancouver. He won his sixth straight start and is 9-1-0 on the season with a 2.22 GAA and .917 save percentage. Miller is 7-1-0 lifetime versus the Sharks in nine meetings with a 2.17 GAA and .932 save percentage. Canucks forward Alex Burrows is eligible to return tonight from a three-game suspension earned for a high, late hit on Montreals Alexei Emelin in last Thursdays win. Canucks (18PTS) at Sharks (16PTS) - 10:30PM SJ was 3-1-0 vs VAN last season SJ has gone 3-1-0 past 4 games at home vs VAN (lost last) SJ (7-4-2): 3-0-1 past 4 games, 12/13 on PK outscored opponent 15-2 in 1st pd Wingels (2G, 2A) 4 game PT streak VAN (9-4-0): 5-1-0 past 6 games, 12GA, 19/20 on PK won 2 straight on the road, 2GA in each game, 8/8 on PK H Sedin/Edler both (1G, 1A) past 2 games Miller has won 6 straight, 1.65GAA, .937sv% Miller 7-1-1(tie) all-time vs SJ, 2.17GAA, .932sv% Wholesale Eagles Jerseys .J. -- The NHL reduced its penalty against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for signing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010. Cheap Eagles Jerseys . Setting United on its way to a 2-0 victory, Rooney sent the ball high from inside the halfway line over goalkeeper Adrian after just seven minutes. "Its just instinct, Ive turned and had a quick look and seen the goalkeeper off his line," Rooney said. http://www.cheapeaglesjerseyselite.com/ .J. Ellis have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract. Cheap Eagles Jerseys China . -- Josh Smith made a 3-pointer as time expired and finished with 20 points to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 99-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in both teams exhibition finale. Eagles Jerseys Outlet . Hamelin overcame a weak start to win bronze in the 500-metre race behind winner Wu Dajing of China and American J.R. Celski on Saturday at the world short track speed skating championship.Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney announced today the signing of rookie right-handed pitcher Alex De La Cruz to a contract for the 2014 season. De La Cruz, 22, has played last two seasons in the Texas Rangers organization after being signed as a free agent. The product of Puerto Rico went 2-0 with a 0.46 ERA in 10 appearances out of the bullpen for Class A Short Season Spokane of the Northwest League last summer. He also had one save and a 5.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio, as he fanned 20 batters and walked just four in 19 2/3 innings. “Hes a young power arm,” Forney said. “His veloccity is anywhere from 91-93 miles per hour and has occasionally been seen at up to 95 miles per hour.dddddddddddd With that velocity and a good breaking ball, he has the ability to have some big time success in our league.” In his first season in professional baseball, De La Cruz was the closer for the Rangers Dominican League squad. He made 18 appearances out of the bullpen, going 4-2 with a 1.93 ERA and nine saves. He also had an astounding 14.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Goldeyes now have 21 players signed for the 2014 season, including 10 pitchers and 11 position players. 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