Canadiens vs Sharks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

The Montreal Canadiens are mired in a five-game losing skid in which the offense has really cooled off.

They’re in a great spot to get back on track against a 32nd-ranked San Jose Sharks team that has already started dealing key players in advance of the trade deadline.

My Canadiens vs. Sharks predictions expect the road team to take advantage, with Juraj Slafkovsky helping jumpstart the offense. Let’s take a closer look with my NHL picks for tonight's game.

Canadiens vs Sharks prediction

My Canadiens pick
Juraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 points (-125 at BET99)

My Canadiens analysis
Juraj Slafkovsky had a disappointing start to the season but has really picked it up over the last couple of months. That uncoincidentally aligns with being moved up to the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

Slafkovsky has produced 5-on-5 points at a very high rate by their side. He’s averaged 2.60 points per 60 minutes on the top line, which is an elite first-line clip. For perspective of how impressive that efficiency is, David Pastrnak and Jason Robertson are tied for 20th in 5-on-5 points this season with an output of 2.60 per 60 minutes. That’s what Slafkovsky has managed when on the No. 1 line.

Slafkovsky has caused opposing defenses problems, and that’s likely to continue against the San Jose Sharks, who rank 30th in shot suppression and dead last in goals against at 5-on-5 over the last 10 games. They haven’t fared any better on the penalty kill, ranking dead last in expected goals allowed and 29th in goals against over the same span.

Slafkovsky is a regular on the No. 1 power-play unit, so he’ll also get to put San Jose’s porous penalty kill to the test. The Sharks are likely to have a miserable time preventing chances during Slafkovsky’s minutes. Getting saves will be a challenge as well.

With Vitek Vanecek back in the mix following an injury, the Sharks have opted to send highly touted goaltender Yaroslav Askarov back to the AHL. That means Vanecek (.885 SV%) and Alexandar Georgiev (.879 SV%) will be tasked with stopping pucks on a nightly basis.

Both goaltenders are among the worst in the NHL, ranking Bottom 10 in Goals Saved Above Expected per start. This is a spot where Montreal’s offense should really heat up, and I expect Slafkovsky to be involved.

Canadiens vs Sharks same-game parlay (SGP)

Juraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 points

Cole Caufield Over 0.5 points

Over 5.5

+220 at BET99

Cole Caufield has been a model of consistency this season. He has points in 65% of Montreal’s games and has only gone more than two straight games without a point once all season long. He’s very quick to get back on the horse after a night or two without production.

There’s every reason to believe that will be the case against the Sharks, who have allowed more than 33 shots and nearly five goals per game over the past 10. The success of Caufield and Slafkovsky is strongly correlated, given they play together at 5-on-5 as well as on the man advantage.

San Jose has conceded 47 goals over the past 10 games, and Askarov, who showed real flashes, is no longer in the picture. They also traded a pair of big-minute veterans in Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci, further thinning out an already bad roster.

Montreal should score in bulk here, leaving San Jose’s offense with little to do to push this game Over the number.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Canadiens vs Sharks odds

Canadiens vs Sharks live odds

Canadiens vs Sharks opening odds

• Puck line: Montreal -1.5 (+149) | San Jose +1.5 (-173)
• Moneyline: Montreal -167 | San Jose +147
• Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6

Odds courtesy of BET99.

Canadiens vs Sharks trend

Cole Caufield has a point in 72% of his road games this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sharks.

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