Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The San Jose Sharks have seemingly accepted their fate, having traded away their top scorer, Mikael Granlund, to the Dallas Stars, further depleting an already struggling offence. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens were in the playoff race just weeks ago but have since suffered a losing streak, making this a crucial game for them to bounce back.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are in the depths of a crisis. Over their last eight games, they have suffered seven defeats, with their only win coming against a struggling Pittsburgh Penguins side (2:1). With Granlund gone, they lack any real scoring threat—already one of the weakest attacking teams in the league, averaging just 2.1 goals per game (27th in the NHL). Defensively, things are even worse, conceding an average of 3.74 goals per game—the worst record in the league. Goaltending has been highly unconvincing, highlighted by Yaroslav Askarov’s disastrous performance against the Seattle Kraken (2:6), where he saved only 63% of shots before being pulled. On top of that, the Sharks are dealing with a massive injury list, with eight players either sidelined or doubtful.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are also in poor form, but unlike their opponents, they still have potential. A five-game losing streak is concerning, but their recent performance against the New Jersey Devils (3:4 OT) showed resilience, as they came back from 0:2 to force overtime. The Canadiens have been far more reliable on the road, winning seven of their last ten away fixtures. Their offensive output is significantly better in away games, averaging 3.08 goals per match. Cole Caufield (25+22) has been a standout performer, ranking 11th among the league’s top scorers.
San Jose Sharks vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction
The San Jose have lost three consecutive home games against the Montreal Canadiens and currently look like one of the weakest teams in the NHL. The Canadiens, despite their struggles, still have the firepower to take advantage of the Sharks’ defensive frailties. Given the disparity in quality, we’re backing a win for the Montreal Canadiens.
