Sharks make lineup change for game vs. Vancouver Canucks

Joachim Blichfeld will play on San Jose Sharks top line with Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane; Marcus Sorensen will be scratched

VANCOUVER — Joachim Blichfeld will rejoin the lineup and the struggling Marcus Sorensen will be a scratch for the first time this season as the Sharks face the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday looking to end their three-game road trip — and go into their bye week — on a positive note.

Blichfeld will start Saturday’s game at Rogers Arena on the Sharks’ top line with Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane. It’s Blichfeld’s first NHL game since Dec. 14, when the Sharks beat the Canucks 4-2 at SAP Center.

Blichfeld was recalled from the Barracuda prior to the start of the road trip, which started with 6-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday and continued with a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. The shut out loss in Denver was the second of the season for the Sharks, who have managed just 13 even strength goals in their last nine games.

The Canucks beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-1 on Thursday and entered Saturday in third place in the Pacific Division with 56 points, 10 more than the Sharks (21-24-4).

“Just going with a different look tonight, we’ve got to spread a little bit of the skill out,” Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner said. “If you look at the Canucks, I think they have a pretty balanced attack on their four lines. We’re trying to do the same.”

Blichfeld averaged 11:05 of ice time in his first two games, as he made his NHL on Dec. 12 against the New York Rangers. Saturday, Blichfeld will also start the game on the Sharks’ second power play unit.

Sorensen, who has regularly played on the Sharks’ third line this season alongside Joe Thornton, has just one assist in his last 19 games and does not have a point in his last nine games. He has just five goals and five assists in 46 games, well behind the pace he had last season when he finished with 17 goals and 13 assists.

“For me, I need more relentlessness, I need urgency,” said Boughner, adding that he spoke with Sorensen on Saturday morning to go over a few of his recent shifts. “Being on the inside a little more and not so much perimeter. He understands that, and he’s not the only one. There’s a few other guys in there as well.

“It’s a bit of a message, as the same time, (Blichfeld) is an offensive player and we can always use a little of that in our lineup.”

Sharks goalie Aaron Dell will start Saturday. In seven career games against the Canucks, Dell is 6-1-0 with two shutouts, a .929 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average.