San Jose @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 7, 2019 ) Montreal 2, San Jose 5

The San Jose Sharks are buried in last place in the Pacific Division and trying to dig out of an early-season hole, but they will have to do it the hard way as they resume a five-game road trip with a visit to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. However, the Sharks have had their way with the Canadiens, winning eight in a row and four straight in Montreal.

San Jose started its trek by squandering an early two-goal lead and dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime in the back end of a home-and-home against Buffalo. "We're playing OK but still not winning," Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson said. "That's what this business is about, it's about winning games." The Canadiens beat defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis in decisive fashion for the second time in eight days, only to drop a 4-3 decision at struggling Minnesota on Sunday. Carey Price will be back in goal after Keith Kinkaid got the start Sunday for Montreal, which has scored only 12 goals during the eight-game slide against San Jose.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), RDS, TSN2 (Montreal)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (3-5-1): Captain Logan Couture was frustrated with a lengthy line change that led to the deciding goal in OT at Buffalo, using the terms "inexcusable" and "selfish," but the team dismissed any controversy in the locker room. “I don’t take it personally,” Kevin Labanc said of Couture’s critique. “He’s being a captain and he’s just holding me accountable, me and Timo (Meier). ... "I think we’re going to come back stronger next game.” Coach Peter DeBoer said he has not decided on his goalie rotation for the back-to-back at Montreal and Toronto.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (4-3-2): After missing two games due to a lower-body injury and sitting out Tuesday's practice, Joel Armia returned to the ice and alternated with Nick Suzuki alongside Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin. "Obviously, we both love playing together," Domi said. "It was super-exciting. We have fun playing together, we’re very close off the ice ... we spend a lot of time together. We think the game very similar as well." Forward Tomas Tatar's availability is in question after he took a shot off the foot and and had to exit Wednesday's practice.

OVERTIME

1. Sharks G Martin Jones is 8-1-0 against Montreal and 7-1-1 against Toronto.

2. Price is 2-9-1 with a 3.16 goals-against average versus San Jose.

3. Karlsson has 33 points in 41 games versus the Canadiens.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 3, Sharks 2