Sharks Edge Canadiens in Overtime Thriller

What we said beforehand

The upcoming NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre promises to be an intriguing fixture as both teams look to improve their standings early in the season. The Canadiens come into this matchup with a home record of 4-3-1, while the Sharks hold an away record of 4-4-1. This series begins on October 20, 2026, at 23:00 UTC, and will be closely watched by fans eager to see how these teams stack up against each other.

In their last five games, the Canadiens have shown some resilience, recording three wins and two losses. They lost to the Nashville Predators 5-2 on October 8, but bounced back with a narrow 1-0 shootout victory against the Detroit Red Wings on October 10. They continued their success with a 4-3 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres on October 13, followed by a close loss to the Washington Capitals, 5-4, on October 14. Most recently, they secured a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against the Sabres again on October 17. This gives them an average of 3.0 goals scored and 3.2 goals allowed in their last five games.

On the other hand, the Sharks have struggled recently, with only one win in their last five outings, resulting in a record of 1-4. They lost to the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 on October 10, followed by a 6-3 defeat to the Boston Bruins on October 14. They managed to edge past the Nashville Predators with a 3-2 shootout win on October 16, but then fell to the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in a shootout on October 17, and most recently lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on October 19. Their recent form shows an average of 2.2 goals scored and 3.6 goals allowed in their last five games.

At home, the Canadiens have been slightly more successful, posting a record of 3-2 in their last five home games, with an average of 3.3 goals scored and 3.5 goals allowed. In contrast, the Sharks have a mixed away record of 2-3 in their last five away games, averaging 2.9 goals scored and 3.3 goals allowed. This trend suggests that the Canadiens may have an advantage playing in front of their home crowd.

Historically, the Canadiens have faced the Sharks twice this season, both times resulting in losses for Montreal. On March 4, 2026, they lost 5-7 in San Jose, and on March 14, 2026, they fell 2-4 at home. This recent head-to-head record of 0-2 against the Sharks could add extra motivation for the Canadiens to turn the tide in their favor.

In terms of injuries, the Canadiens are dealing with several key players sidelined. Mike Matheson is out due to a lower body injury, while Florian Xhekaj, Sam Montembeault, Ivan Demidov, and Bryce Pickford are all on injured reserve with various lower body and undisclosed injuries. The Sharks also have notable absences, with Alexander Wennberg out with an upper body injury, and Quentin Musty and Kyle Keyser on injured reserve due to upper body injuries.

The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, has the Canadiens favored at -225 on the money line, with a spread of -1.5 and a total set at 6.5. The over odds are at -122.0 while the under odds sit at 102.0. This indicates that the market expects a competitive game, with the Canadiens being seen as the stronger side.

As for the conditions on game day, the matchup will take place at the Bell Centre, a venue known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate fans. This home-ice advantage could play a crucial role in the Canadiens' performance.

Fans should watch for Cole Caufield, who leads the Canadiens with 5 goals, and Nick Suzuki, who has 10 points, including 6 assists. For the Sharks, Macklin Celebrini is a player to keep an eye on, leading his team with 3 goals and 11 points overall. The performance of these key players may well dictate the outcome of this exciting matchup.