San Jose Sharks end road trip with barely a whimper

San Jose Sharks managed just seven shots in the first two periods, end three-game road trip with a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.

VANCOUVER — Bob Boughner wanted the Sharks to empty their tanks in their last game before they begin their bye week.

Instead, the Sharks put forth another dismal offensive display, with Aaron Dell’s performance the only reason Saturday’s game with the Vancouver Canucks didn’t get completely out of hand.

Dell finished with 35 saves, including 26 in the first two periods, as the Sharks ended their three-game road trip with a 4-1 loss to the Canucks at Rogers Arena.

The Sharks managed just 10 shots on goalie Thatcher Demko before Barclay Goodrow scored his career-high eighth of the season at the 7:09 mark of the third period, cutting the Canucks’ lead to 2-1.

But Quinn Hughes responded just 37 seconds later, as his shot from inside the blue line got past Dell for his fifth goal of the season. J.T. Miller put the game out of reach with a goal at the 15:27 mark of the third.

Then with 2:42 left in regulation time, a fracas ensued after Joe Thornton leveled Brandon Sutter with a shoulder to shoulder check. Sutter went right back at Thornton, causing a scrum and a stoppage in play that lasted a few minutes as officials sorted out the penalties. Five players received 10-minute misconducts.

Loui Eriksson and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Canucks, who moved into first place in the Pacific Division with 58 points. The Sharks (21-25-4)  are in sixth place in the division and in 13th place in the Western Conference, and are now 11 points out of a playoff spot.

Coming off a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, the Sharks managed just three shots on goal in the first period and four more in the second period.

The Sharks also had to kill three penalties in that time, including a delay of game call after they unsuccessfully challenged Eriksson’s goal at the 14:05 mark of the second period.

Pearson’s goal at the 5:01 mark of the third period came on a Canucks’ power play, as Timo Meier took a needless goalie interference penalty just 24 seconds earlier.

The Sharks do not play again until Jan. 27 when they host the Anaheim Ducks.

The Canucks have now won eight straight games at home, a streak that began Dec. 19, and owned a 15-5-3 record at Rogers Arena this season.

The Sharks managed just three shots on Demko in a first period that saw a bit of feistiness.

Kevin Labanc was run over by Canucks defenseman Alex Edler deep in the Sharks’ zone midway through the period.

As the play went back up the ice, Labanc cross checked Edler in the back to receive his first penalty and after a stoppage in play, punched Brandon Sutter in the face with a gloved hand to get another two minutes.