San Jose Sharks vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, NHL Odds
Four wins in a row would match a season high for the Habs, who have not strung together four in a row since October. Montreal will also seek redemption on the Sharks, who potted seven on them a week and a half ago.
The NHL Odds have the Canadiens listed as the -190 favourite at home, with the OVER/UNDER set at 6.5 goals. Puck drop from the Bell Centre is set for 7:00 pm EST.
Sharks vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
The Canadiens have beaten the Sharks in five of their past eight meetings, including a season sweep last year. Each of the past three matchups hit the OVER, but they hit the UNDER in seven straight before that.
Last week, the Sharks hosted the Canadiens in a chaotic game, ending in a 7-5 Sharks victory. The game featured five lead changes, and the Sharks blew a 5-2 lead in the third period. A late power play marker put them back in front, before sealing the deal with an empty netter. Macklin Celebrini put together a four-point night (1G, 3A) for the Sharks, while Mike Matheson (3A) and Alex Newhook (2G) directed the offence for the Canadiens.
San Jose has been solid on the spread this season, covering in 40 of their 63 games this season, the most in the NHL, while Montreal is just behind them, covering in 39 of 64.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks opened a five-game road trip on Tuesday in Buffalo, taking a tough 6-3 loss from the Sabres, which extended their losing streak to three in a row. They got back in the win column on Thursday in Boston, upsetting the Bruins 4-2. San Jose looked locked in in that game, going up 4-0 in the third period, before Boston’s comeback attempt would fall short.
Alex Nedeljkovic was impressive in goal for the San Jose, stopping 39 of 41, to match his season high and pick up his 12th win of the season. William Eklund was the second-best Shark on the ice in this one, scoring a highlight-reel goal and adding an assist. Celebrini had an assist in this one as well, putting himself on the score sheet in seven straight games. His seven-game point streak features 10 points, five goals and five assists.
Nobody would have predicted the Sharks to sneak into the playoffs this season, but with less than a quarter of the season to go, they are very much in the mix. With the most games remaining of anyone in the league, they find themselves just one point out of a wildcard spot and five points back of third in the Pacific.
Montreal Canadiens
Three wins in a row for the Canadiens, thanks to their most recent 3-2 win over divisional rivals, the Ottawa Senators. That game on Wednesday night had some big implications for the postseason race in the Atlantic Division, and the Habs’ young studs led the charge.
A power play goal just over a minute into the game looked like good fortune for the Canadiens, as Juraj Slafkovsky pounded in his 24th of the year to get the Canadiens rolling. The vibe quickly changed late in the first as Ottawa would score back-to-back goals 1:59 apart to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Alex Texier would score the lone goal in the middle frame to tie the game up headed to the third. The final frame featured a game-winning goal from rookie Ivan Demidov, his 14th of the year, followed by a series of game-saving stops from Jacob Fowler to seal the victory.
Fowler was recalled from the AHL on Wednesday and announced as the starter immediately. The 21-year-old rookie has been great in his 11 NHL starts this season, giving the Canadiens a scapegoat in net.
Cole Caufield is third in the league with 37 goals, but he missed the past contest with an illness. He did practice on Friday with the team, so expect his hunt for 40 goals to continue on Saturday night.
Sitting in third place in the Atlantic, the Canadiens are far from comfortable, with the likes of Detroit and Boston nipping at their heels, three and four points behind, respectively.
