The Montreal Canadiens (25-30-4), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, are on the road to face the San Jose Sharks (18-30-12) and their weak power play offense at SAP Center at San Jose on Tuesday. Montreal is playing their first of four games on the road coming off a 5-2 loss against the Senators on Saturday.
The Canadiens committed only two penalties in the game, holding Ottawa without a power play goal. Mike Matheson and Nick Suzuki both scored once for the Canadiens. Sam Montembeault saved only 17 of 22 shots against (.772%) in the loss.
San Jose fell 4-3 (SO) to the Blackhawks on Saturday. Nick Bonino, Erik Karlsson, and Evgeny Svechnikov scored one apiece for the Sharks. Nico Sturm and Marc-Edouard Vlasic both had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Kaapo Kahkonen had 32 saves in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Sharks won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-0 victory in November. Tomas Hertl (2G 0A), Logan Couture (1G 1A), and Kevin Labanc (0G 2A) each had two points to lead San Jose. Kahkonen saved 28 shots to earn the shutout win.
FACING OFF
Montreal is averaging 2.69 goals per game for the season, 27th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sharks team that is allowing 3.62 goals a game (27th).
Meanwhile, San Jose has found the net 2.97 times a game on average, 23rd in the league, and the Canadiens are allowing opponents to score 3.63 goals per game (28th).
Montreal averages fewer shots per game (27.9) than most teams in the league, ranking 30th. San Jose has been one of the league’s least successful shot-stopping teams, ranking No. 29 with a team save percentage of .892%.
The Canadiens’ 28th-ranked power play offense (16.76%) will be put to the test against the Sharks, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (83.62%).
San Jose, meanwhile, has scored on 18.63% of their power play opportunities (25th), which the home team will be seeking to add to against Montreal’s 28th-ranked 74.00% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 46 points this season, Suzuki is the top skater for the Canadiens. He has 20 goals and 26 assists in 59 games. In the net, Montembeault (12-11-2) is Montreal’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.24 GAA and a .908% save percentage.
Jake Allen (13-18-2) leads the Canadiens in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.42 and a save percentage of .895%. Karlsson leads the Sharks in scoring with 77 points (7th in the league).
He has 19 goals and 58 assists (3rd) in 60 games. James Reimer (9-15-6) has the best goals against average for San Jose at 3.29. He has a save percentage of .895%.
HOME AND AWAY
Montreal is 11-15-3 away from home this season. San Jose is 6-15-8 at SAP Center at San Jose this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
SJ Sharks (-165)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
