The Montreal Canadiens (45-20-7) can expect a tough contest hosting a playoff-hungry San Jose Sharks (35-28-8) Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
The Sharks - in spite of their late-season playoff push - have made more headlines of their off-ice activities than what they’ve done within the boards lately.
A California soap opera began earlier this month when veteran 36-year-old Joe Thornton said that his GM Doug Wilson should “shut his mouth.” Thornton was reacting to an unflattering speech Wilson made to season ticket holders.
The Sharks are in 10th place in the Western Conference and have gone 5-5-0 in their last 10 games. They sit five points out of a playoff spot with 11 games left and are increasingly seen as a longshot to make the postseason.
After getting thumped 5-2 by Winnipeg and 6-2 by Chicago, the Sharks returned to form in their last game, a 4-1 victory over the Leafs.
The Habs and Sharks have dueled only once this season, in a game that the Sharks won 4-0 in San Jose on March 2. The Habs only managed 20 shots on goaltender Alex Stalock.
The Canadiens are coming off a 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday, a game which saw Brendan Gallagher score his 20th of the season.
Several Canadiens are questionable after being felled by cold or flu like symptoms. Nathan Beaulieu and Jeff Petry have missed action and David Desharnais missed a practice due to the ailment. Torrey Mitchell will likely miss due to a shoulder injury.
Carey Price (39-15-4) is expected to start for the Canadiens after setting a personal high for wins with his 39th in Thursday’s shutout, his eighth of the season, leaving him just one behind the league leader Marc-Andre Fleury. Price. With his 33 career shutouts. Price is now just one behind Bill Durnan on the all-time Canaidnes shutout leaders list.
