Sharks at Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens will look to avoid losing consecutive games at home for the first time since March when they host the San Jose Sharks on Friday night. Montreal has lost only once in regulation and three times overall at the Bell Centre this season after dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to bitter rival Boston on Monday night.
Montreal, which is 14-1-2 at home, erupted for 15 goals in a pair of wins over New Jersey and Colorado last week before falling to the Bruins. The Canadiens will be looking for payback after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Sharks on Dec. 2, which boosted San Jose to 8-0-2 at home against Montreal since 1999. The Sharks are riding a three-game winning streak after posting shootout victories at Toronto and Ottawa on the first two stops of their four-game road trip. San Jose could be without forward Logan Couture, who was cross-checked in the back of the helmet by Ottawa's Mike Hoffman on Wednesday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSN California (San Jose), RDS, Sportsnet East (Montreal)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (18-11-1): With the uncertain status of Couture, who has seven goals in his last 12 games, and Tomas Hertl sidelined, San Jose recalled top prospect Timo Meier from the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. Meier, the team's No. 9 overall pick in the 2015 draft, scored a team-high nine goals for the Barracuda and is expected to make his NHL debut versus Montreal. “Plays inside. He’s a horse,” Barracuda coach Roy Sommer said of Meier. “I don’t know if he’s like a Hertl, but similar to that type of player."
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (19-6-4): Facing a rugged back-to-back against last season's Stanley Cup finalist and Presidents' Trophy winners, Montreal coach Michel Therrien will go with Carey Price against San Jose and Al Montoya at Washington. Price fell to 2-5-1 lifetime against the Sharks after making 28 saves in the loss earlier this month. Montreal also dipped into the minors to recall defenseman Mark Barberio and forward Sven Andrighetto, who each collected a pair of points during their one-game demotion to the St. John’s IceCaps earlier this week.
OVERTIME
1. Price is one victory shy of 250 for his career.
2. Sharks G Martin Jones turned away all seven shots in the shootout against Toronto and Ottawa.
3. Canadiens F Paul Byron has scored in three of the last four games.