Montreal Canadiens vs. San Jose Sharks Prediction, NHL Odds
The win versus the Ducks snapped Montreal’s four-game slide, making Friday afternoon the perfect time to get their first crack at the worst team in the NHL.
San Jose will look to bounce back after an embarrassing road trip of their own, where they were outscored 10-2 in a pair of games.
Puck drop from SAP Center is set for 3:30 PM EST. Check out our NHL odds for Friday’s Moneyline, Puckline and Over/Under.
Canadiens vs. Sharks NHL Betting Odds
As per usual, the Canadiens and Sharks will only meet twice this season, the next meeting coming in January in Montreal. The underdog has pulled the upset in each meeting over the past two seasons (four games). Looking back a bit further, the road team has won the past five matchups and each of those games has been a low event, hitting the UNDER every time as well.
Montreal has been in some high-scoring games recently, hitting the OVER in four of their past five including each of their past three. They were finally on the right side of things Wednesday night, snapping a four-game slide and covering the spread improving their record ATS and on the OVER/UNDER to 11-8 each. Playing out of conference has not been pretty for the Habs so far, going 3-6-1 and playing the OVER in four of their past five versus out-of-conference opponents.
It is no secret that this Sharks team is really bad and their abysmal offence is a part of the problem. They are averaging only 1.47 goals per game including back-to-back games where they put just a single puck in the net. They have only scored more than three goals just once this season and their record on the OVER/UNDER is 5-12-2, including hitting the OVER twice in the past eight games.
Montreal Canadiens
Alex Newhook scored the first and final goals of the game in the Habs 4-3 win over the Ducks on Wednesday night. The Newfie now has six goals and 12 points in his first season with the Canadiens and was named first star of the game for the first time this campaign. Mike Matheson (5) and Kaiden Guhle (2) also scored in the win as the defenceman on the team continued to contribute and the offence as well.
Sam Montembeault’s amazing glove save in the third period kept the game tied as a part of a 30-save performance on his way to picking up his fourth win. Captain Nick Suzuki extended his point streak to three games, picking up his fourth assist over the stretch, increasing his team lead to 17 points in 19 games.
The Habs are still using a three-goalie rotation and have not gone with the same starter since very early in the season. Expect Jake Allen or Cayden Primeau in the net versus the bottom-feeding Sharks.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks will be happy to return home after taking a massive 7-1 loss from the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night. The Kraken scored four in the first period and went up 5-0 in the second. It was already too little, too late when Mike Hoffman (5) scored their lone goal in the third period on their way to the 7-1 final.
Kaapo Kahkonen was replaced to start the second period after allowing four goals on 17 shots in the opening frame. MacKenzie Blackwood faced only 13 shots in the final 40 minutes but still allowed three goals.
They have fallen to 0-9 on the road and will hope to turn things around with a three-game home stand. San Jose has picked up all seven of their points in the standings while playing at SAP Center and will hope to get some much-needed points before heading on a long six-game swing through the Eastern Conference.
Blackwood is likely the starter Friday afternoon as the Sharks look for their fourth W of the season. Tomas Hertl leads the team with 12 points and he is tied for the team lead in goals (4) with four other players.
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