The Montreal Canadiens welcome the San Jose Sharks to the Bell Centre on Thursday night, with both teams experiencing vastly different trajectories in their recent performances.
The Canadiens enter the contest riding high on a two-game winning streak, including an impressive 4-0 shutout victory over Carolina, while the Sharks are desperately seeking to snap both a six-game losing streak and a seven-game road skid.
Montreal's offensive prowess has been evident lately, with the team scoring 12 goals in their last three games, led by Nick Suzuki's impressive 57-point campaign and Cole Caufield's 27 goals this season.
The Sharks, despite their struggles, have historically performed well against Montreal, holding a 6-3-1 record in their last ten meetings, though the Canadiens claimed victory in their first encounter this season with a 4-3 win.
Both teams have shown defensive vulnerabilities this season, with San Jose allowing a league-worst 3.68 goals per game and Montreal not far behind at 3.35, suggesting this matchup could come down to which team better executes their offensive gameplan.
As these Atlantic and Pacific division opponents prepare to face off, the question remains whether the Canadiens can maintain their momentum or if the Sharks can finally break free from their recent slump.
Montreal Canadiens vs. San Jose Sharks prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Montreal Canadiens vs San Jose Sharks matchup, our predictive model gives the Canadiens a 69.5% chance of defeating the Sharks.
Pre-game probabilities
Montreal Canadiens
Moneyline
Win %
69.5%
30.5%
San Jose Sharks
Montreal Canadiens: 69.5% win probability
- Superior offensive output (172 goals scored vs Sharks' 151)
- Better recent form (WWLLL vs Sharks' LLLLL)
- Higher points total in standings (59 points vs Sharks' 38)
San Jose Sharks: 30.5% win probability
- League-worst defensive record (221 goals against)
- Poorest current form in league (5 straight losses)
- Lowest points total in Western Conference (38 points in 59 games)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Montreal Canadiens | San Jose Sharks | |
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| moneyline |
Montreal Canadiens vs. San Jose Sharks preview
The Montreal Canadiens will host the struggling San Jose Sharks at Bell Centre on Thursday night, as both teams look to make their mark in what promises to be an intriguing matchup.
The Canadiens enter the contest with momentum on their side, having secured impressive victories against Ottawa and Carolina, including a commanding 4-0 shutout in their most recent outing.
San Jose, meanwhile, finds themselves in a challenging position, currently enduring a six-game losing streak overall and a concerning seven-game skid on the road.
The Canadiens' offense has been clicking lately, led by the dynamic Nick Suzuki, who has accumulated an impressive 57 points this season with 16 goals and 41 assists, while Cole Caufield has contributed significantly with 27 goals and 24 assists.
For the Sharks, Mikael Granlund has been a bright spot in a difficult season, leading the team with 45 points, while young talents Macklin Celebrini and William Eklund have each contributed 42 points.
The goaltending battle will feature Sam Montembeault, who is coming off a perfect 20-save shutout for Montreal, against San Jose's Vitek Vanecek, who has struggled with a 3.87 GAA this season.
Despite San Jose's historical success against Montreal, holding a 6-3-1 record in their last ten meetings, the Canadiens claimed victory in their first encounter this season with a 4-3 win.
Montreal's special teams could prove decisive, with their power play converting at over 21 percent, while San Jose's penalty kill ranks 23rd in the league.
The Canadiens will look to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and extend their winning streak to three games, while the Sharks aim to find their footing and snap their concerning losing streak.
With both teams' recent tendency to play low-scoring games, as evidenced by eight of their last ten meetings going under the total, fans might expect a tight, defensive battle at the Bell Centre.
Montreal Canadiens vs. San Jose Sharks form
Montreal Canadiens vs. San Jose Sharks head to head
Montreal Canadiens
67%
San Jose Sharks
33%
Feb 5, 2025
San Jose Sharks
3 : 4
Montreal Canadiens
Jan 12, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
2 : 3
San Jose Sharks
Nov 24, 2023
San Jose Sharks
2 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Mar 1, 2023
San Jose Sharks
1 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Nov 30, 2022
Montreal Canadiens
0 : 4
San Jose Sharks
Oct 29, 2021
San Jose Sharks
0 : 4
Montreal Canadiens
