If there’s a team to circle as a possible win for the Sharks, today’s would be it. Like the Sharks, the Canadiens are losing more games than they are winning this season, entering SAP Center with an 8-9-2 record. The Canadiens snapped a four game losing streak on Wednesday with a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
The Canadiens are getting better scoring than the Sharks. Five of the Canadiens are in double digits in scoring, with Nick Suzuki leading the way with 17 points. For the Sharks, only Tomas Hertl has hit double digits in points this season.
With how poorly the Canadiens’ season has started, the trade rumors are starting to swirl, especially since Montreal has three goaltenders and there are some teams in desperate need of them. Arpon Basu of The Athletic spoke to young goaltender Sam Montembeault about hearing his name on the trade block. Montembeault is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and he doesn’t have a contract currently.
“Just keep scrolling, don’t look at the comments.”
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) November 24, 2023
Sound advice from Sam Montembeault on how he’s handling trade rumours swirling around him. One of the many mental challenges athletes face. I looked at three that are impacting three Canadiens players. https://t.co/j2jhzsY7kk
San Jose Sharks lines
The Sharks didn’t have a morning skate since this is a day game. So, we’re guessing on the lines. Nico Sturm is back after a two game absence to deal with a personal family matter back in Germany. The Hockey News’ Max Miller reports that Jan Rutta is expected to be week to week after he went hard into the boards and hit his head.
No Jan Rutta. Quinn says probably week to week with an upper body injury. #SJSharks
— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) November 24, 2023
So, here’s what we think the lines will look like:
Forwards
William Eklund – Tomas Hertl – Fabian Zetterlund
Filip Zadina – Mikael Granlund – Anthony Duclair
Mike Hoffman – Nico Sturm – Luke Kunin
Jacob MacDonald – Ryan Carpenter – Givani Smith
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Ty Emberson
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Kyle Burroughs
Nikita Okhotiuk – Calen Addison
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Kaapo Kahkonen
Montreal Canadiens lines
The Canadiens are dealing with some injuries. Defenseman Arber Xhekaj is not on the California swing of the Canadiens road trip because of an injury. Forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard is out six to eight weeks with an injury. Defenseman Jordan Harris is also on injured reserve.
According to the Daily Faceoff, here are the lines for the Canadiens today:
Forwards
Alex Newhook – Nick Suzuki – Brendan Gallagher
Cole Caufield – Christian Dvorak – Juraj Slafkovsky
Tanner Pearson – Sean Monahan – Josh Anderson
Michael Pezzetta – Jake Evans – Jesse Ylonen
Defensemen
Michael Matheson – Justin Barron
Kaiden Guhle – Johnathan Kovacevic
Jayden Struble – Gustav Lindstrom
Goaltenders
Cayden Primeu
Jake Allen
How to watch the Montreal Canadiens at the San Jose Sharks
Tonight’s game will be broadcast regionally on NBCSCA. Streaming is available with a subscription to ESPN+ (blackout restrictions may apply). The radio call will be streamed through the Sharks Audio Network. Canadiens fans in Canada can watch the game on TSN2 or on RDS for the French broadcast.
The game starts at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET at SAP Center.
Check back then to follow along with all of the play-by-play action in the comment section below!
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