The Montreal Canadiens will try to end their win drought when they visit the last-place San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.
The Canadiens fell to 0-4-1 in their last five games with a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.
Montreal led 2-0 for 33 minutes before the Ducks quickly tied it with two goals in a 40-second span. Alex Killorn scored the game-winner at 11:11 of the third period and handed Montreal another tough loss.
«It’s not like they’re dominating us, but we’re finding ways to lose,» Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. «We’re hurting ourselves. We’re not as sharp, we’re not executing… It’s not the time of the season you want to have a slide, so we’ve got to stop the bleeding.»
The Canadiens were 13-3-1 in the 17 games before their winless streak and had clawed their way to the edge of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
On paper, a game against the NHL’s worst team would seem like an excellent opportunity for the Canadiens to get back on track. However, the Sharks have long had a handle on Montreal. San Jose is 16-3-1 in its last 20 meetings with Montreal, dating back to the 2010-11 season.
This season, San Jose has won just four of its last 22 games (4-17-1).
Looking to continue their rebuilding plan, the Sharks traded Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars on Saturday for two picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Granlund led the Sharks in assists (30) and points (45), while Ceci led in ice time (1,175 minutes, 41 seconds) and blocks (100) this season. Beyond the numbers, the two veterans acted as mentors to many younger San Jose players.
«(Granlund) said I could ask him whatever I needed,» forward Will Smith told the San Jose Mercury News. «Obviously, I did. We sat next to each other in the locker room, too, so (it’s) tough to see him go… We’re losing an important piece, but I’ve learned a lot from him.»
Beyond the trade departures, San Jose’s lineup could be depleted by injuries. Alexander Wennberg (upper body) is expected to miss his second straight game, while Tyler Toffoli (lower body) and Fabian Zetterlund (illness) are questionable after missing practice Sunday.
Health-wise, Vitek Vanecek was called back from his American Hockey League conditioning assignment after missing 21 games due to a fractured cheekbone. Vanecek could return to the rink Tuesday, or fellow goalie Alexandar Georgiev could start if the Sharks want to ease Vanecek back into action.
Because the Canadiens also play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings, Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes are expected to split back-to-back starts. The goalies have been alternating in the starting lineup over the past month, so Dobes could be called up Tuesday, as Montembeault played in Anaheim.
Captain Nick Suzuki leads all Montreal skaters with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists).
The Canadiens’ penalty kill percentage (82.5) is among the best in the NHL. Opponents have made just 2 of 25 on the power play in Montreal’s last 10 games, and 0 of 9 in its last five.