In their last game before the league pauses its schedule for two weeks to hold the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Sharks gave up three goals in a lopsided first period and never fully recovered in an 8-3 loss to the playoff-bound Dallas Stars on Saturday at SAP Center.

The San Jose Sharks have prime opportunities to grow their rookie’s skill and depth as well as better the team in the end. Even though the team will miss out on playoffs for the sixth year in a row, they can use this time to focus more on skill development.

Vanecek is now 3-8-2 this season with a .887 save percentage. He could be in line to start again on Saturday when the Sharks host the Dallas Stars in their final game before the NHL breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off, which runs from Feb. 12-20.

The Stars are playing the second night of a back-to-back following an emotional shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Pacific division foes meet as the San Jose Sharks take on the Vancouver Canucks. Welcome back to NHL Predictions! Today, like every day, Last Word on Hockey looks at the games happening and gives our predictions for each.

The San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) along with the National Hockey League announced today the franchise’s First and Second Quarter Century Team presented by SAP as selected by a panel of media, retired players,

Smith, Walman score back-to-back goals for Sharks lead The San Jose Sharks quickly turned a one-goal advantage into a one-goal lead with back-to-back goals from Jake Walman and Wi

With only two games remaining before the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Vancouver Canucks travel down to San Jose for a single-game road trip to battle with the Sharks. Note the 7:30 p.m. PT start time for Thursday night’s game.