MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens triumphed over the San Jose Sharks with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win on Thursday night, extending their victory streak to three games following the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Cole Caufield was the hero of the night, scoring at 3:21 of overtime. Caufield maneuvered skillfully between his legs to sidestep Macklin Celebrini before launching a shot past Alexandar Georgiev’s right pad, cementing the win. Caufield continues to lead the Canadiens, boasting a remarkable tally of 28 goals this season.
Montreal’s captain, Nick Suzuki, had an impressive performance with two goals in the first period. Alex Newhook also contributed with a crucial goal —his first since February 4. Samuel Montembeault was formidable in goal, registering 22 saves to secure his third consecutive win.
On the other side, the San Jose Sharks, currently at the bottom of the NHL standings, continued their unfortunate streak with seven consecutive losses and 13 losses out of their last 14 games. Fabian Zetterlund, Nico Sturm, and Will Smith found the back of the net for the Sharks.
Throughout the game, the Canadiens showcased resilience by coming from behind three times in regulation to level the score each time and ultimately secure their overtime victory.
The San Jose Sharks faced their first defeat at the Bell Centre since March 21, 2015, having won the last eight encounters against the Canadiens in Montreal. A pivotal moment occurred when, trailing 2-1 just before the end of the first period, Suzuki capitalized on a pass from Hutson, firing an impressive snap shot from the left faceoff circle to even the score, marking his first career goals against the Sharks.
Both teams are set to play on Saturday night. The Sharks will visit Ottawa, while the Canadiens will face Buffalo, eager to extend their winning form.
