The Stanley Cup Playoffs are not unfamiliar to the San Jose Sharks, but they have been their achilles heal for quite some time. The Sharks punched their ticket to the playoffs for the ninth season in a row, second longest active streak in the NHL, behind the Detroit Red Wings‘ 22 seasons in a row.

Following their 3-2 loss against the Los Angeles Kings last Saturday night, the Sharks learned that they would face the number three seed Vancouver Canucks in the first round.

Being the six seed means the Sharks will have to start on the road. This could be a problem because during the regular season the Sharks struggled on the road. Luckily, the Sharks have had good luck against the Canucks, posting a 3-0-0 record against them in the regular season. Does the team have the mindset that Vancouver will be an easy matchup? No. Head Coach Todd McLellan has already made it clear that, “we’ll have our hands full.”

This is set to be a good matchup because the Sharks are hungry for revenge. Two seasons ago, these two teams met in the Western Conference Finals, and the Canucks got the better of the Sharks, beating them and advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they would eventually lose. Since then the Sharks have been waiting for round two in the playoffs and this year they will get the opportunity.

My prediction is that the Sharks will take it in six.

The schedule is as follows:

Game 1

Wednesday, May 1, 7:30 p.m.

Sharks @ Vancouver

Game 2

Friday, May 3, 7 p.m.

Sharks @ Vancouver

Game 3

Sunday, May 5, 7 p.m.

Vancouver @ Sharks

Game 4

Tuesday, May 7, 7 p.m.

Vancouver @ Sharks

Game 5*

Thursday, May 9, 7 p.m.

Sharks @ Vancouver

Game 6*

Saturday, May 11, TBD

Vancouver @ Sharks

Game 7*

Monday, May 13, TBD

Sharks @ Vancouver

*if necessary