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Sundin searching for first points with Canucks

Jan 10, 2009 - 11:43 AM San Jose (30-5-5) at Vancouver (22-16-5) 10:00 p.m. EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- It has only been two games, but the arrival of Mats Sundin has done nothing to help the Vancouver Canucks.

Sundin looks to record his first point since returning to the ice when the Canucks host the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

The 37-year-old center, Sundin signed a one-year contract on December 18, returning to the NHL after debating retirement during the offseason.

Sundin - who has averaged better than a point per game during his 17-year career - was kept off the scoresheet in his debut with Vancouver on Wednesday, a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

In his first home appearance with the Canucks, Sundin cost his team a chance for its second straight win when he was whistled for slashing St. Louis Blues rookie defenseman Tyson Strachan with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the third period. The infraction came less than two minutes after Daniel Sedin forged a 4-4 tie with a power-play goal.

Just 20 seconds after Sundin was sent to the penalty box, Brad Boyes fired a one-timer from the left faceoff circle past goaltender Jason LaBarbera for his 19th goal, giving St. Louis the lead en route to a 6-4 victory.

Captain Patrick Marleau scored a pair of goals and Brad Staubitz netted his first career tally as the Sharks skated to a 4-1 triumph over the Oilers on Friday.

Devin Setoguchi recorded a goal and two assists and Evgeni Nabokov made 25 saves for San Jose, which improved to 3-1-2 in their last six games overall but just 2-2-3 in their last seven on the road.