San Jose Sharks continue east coast road trip and take on the Montreal Canadiens
This season has physically hurt for some members of the fanbase. We knew this team was going to struggle, but with the second double digit losing streak of the season reaching 12 with defeat in Toronto, the San Jose Sharks will get the chance to try and snap it as they take on the most storied franchise in the NHL in their home building. It'll be in the Bell Center as the Sharks take on the Montreal Canadiens.
This is a Canadiens team that suffers with a lot of similar problems to the San Jose Sharks. If the team in teal is going to turn it around tonight, they are going to need to score first and find a way to shut it down defensively. Giving up the first goal on the back of a slow start has doomed the team in recent weeks. Getting the first goal, setting up a defensive structure, and then playing to expand the lead is how the Sharks will need to win tonight.
Injuries have cursed the team a lot this season. With Logan Couture, Matt Benning, Nico Sturm, Givani Smith and Jacob MacDonald all on the injured reserve, the sluggish perfromances recently are understandable. It'll be nice when some of these players start to return, but for now, the Sharks have to start finding a way to win despite the absentees.
Projected Lineups
San Jose Sharks
William Eklund - Tomas Hertl - Filip Zadina
Anthony Duclair - Mikael Granlund - Fabian Zetterlund
Alexander Barabanov - Luke Kunin - Justin Bailey
Mie Hoffman - Ryan Carpenter - Kevin Labanc
Mario Ferraro - Kyle Burroughs
Henry Thrun - Jan Rutta
Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Calen Addison
Mackenzie Blackwood
Kaapo Kahkonen
Montreal Canadiens
Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Salfkovsky
Brendan Gallagher - Jake Evans - Josh Anderson
Emil Heineman - Sean Monahan - Jesse Ylonen
Michael Pezzetta - Mitchell Stephens - Joel Armia
Michael Matheson - David Savard
Kaiden Guhle - Justin Barron
Jayden Struble - Jordan Harris
Samuel Montembeault
Jake Allen
Puck Drop
This will be a 4 p.m puck drop from the Bell Centre in Montreal. As the Sharks look to snap their losing streak at 12, the Montreal Canadiens will be looking to try and gain some ground on the teams above them in their division. This is a game the Sharks can win, it will be a case of will they. This is a strong Canadiens squad, but if they do not take the Sharks seriously, the road team in this one could pounce to snap their losing streak.