The Vancouver Canucks Andrei Kuzmenko (96) and the San Jose Sharks Fabian Zetterlund (20) battle for the puck in the third period at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Sat Dec 23, 2023 (Canadian Press photo via AP)

By Torben Rolfsen

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -What happens when a resistible force combines with a moveable object? We found out Saturday night as the San Jose Sharks brought their league-worst offense to Rogers Arena along with their league-worst defense.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and the Sharks D got juked out of their stockings.

The league-leading Canucks scored five goals on their first sixteen shots to send the Sharks to their fifth straight loss, 7-4. Vancouver improved to 7-0-2 in its last nine.

After Jacob MacDonald pulled San Jose to within one goal with just under seven minutes remaining, the Canucks put the game away with two late goals, their seventh into an empty net courtesy of their captain Quinn Hughes.

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, starting (Mackenzie) Blackwood in goal might not be the best way to make your dreams come true.

Vancouver scored three goals in the second frame to break the game open. Fabian Zetterland scored on a nice passing play by Mario Ferraro at 11:08, but San Jose’s attack couldn’t keep pace with the leaks in the Sharks own end.

It was sort of a tale of two first periods. The first half belonged to the Canucks, who looked relaxed and in control. The hosts were up two goals before the Sharks even got their second shot on goal.

But at 13:32 the tide had turned and Anthony Duclair took advantage of an overly-relaxed Vancouver D to put one past California native Thatcher Demko, the NHL ‘s second star of the week.

Tomas Hertl tied it up less than three minutes later and backhanded it through the five-hole after a rebound scramble close to the net. It was Hertl’s team-leading 12th goal of the campaign.

Andrei Kuzmenko scored the Canucks first two goals on snappy wristers that found their way through, the second with Mike Hoffman off for interference.

Shots on goal ended up 26-25 for Vancouver, hits were 19-15 in favor of San Jose. . The large Vancouver crowd (sold out, 18,875), many in holiday attire, were in a festive mood.

Most random jersey sighting of the night was a guy in a Clark Griswold Blackhawks sweater, who was booed lustily when shown on the Jumbotron.

Sharks next game is at Los Angeles Wednesday, December 27 before returning home to the SAP Center for a tilt against the Edmonton Oilers Thursday, December 28.