San Jose Sharks vs Montreal Canadiens Picks and Predictions for Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Montreal has been finding ways to win tight games. San Jose has been close too, but has not always found a way to win close games. The two meet Tuesday at Bell Centre, with the game starting at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN+. Both teams are 4-3-1 after eight games. San Jose is fourth in the Pacific Division following Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss in Detroit. Montreal sits sixth in the Atlantic after beating Buffalo 4-3 in overtime. The Canadiens have won three of four, while San Jose has two victories in its last five games. Get an edge with our free NHL picks.

San Jose Sharks Searching for More Goals

Boston put six goals past San Jose last week, and Edmonton held the Sharks to one. San Jose then got past Nashville in a shootout before losing another shootout in Detroit. Even with four wins, the Sharks have scored just 21 goals in eight games. That's 2.63 per night from 27.6 shots, not enough to make up for what's happening at the other end. Opponents are averaging 3.50 goals, and San Jose has allowed at least three in three of its last four outings.

Macklin Celebrini has 11 points despite playing just six games. Eight are assists, and five of those have come on the power play. Will Smith has three goals and three assists, while Ivar Stenberg has two goals and four assists. The Sharks have converted 23.1% of their power plays, a bright spot in an uneven start. There's also a large gap between their goalies. Yaroslav Askarov has a .848 save percentage and a 3.99 goals-against average. Alex Nedeljkovic is 2-0-1 with a .920 save percentage and 2.20 GAA.

Injuries: Quentin Musty and Kyle Keyser are on injured reserve.

Montreal Canadiens Getting Results in Close Games

Montreal's last three victories have all required extra time. First came a 1-0 shootout win over Detroit, followed by another shootout victory against Buffalo. On Saturday, the Canadiens needed overtime to beat the Sabres 4-3. They also lost 5-4 in Washington between those Buffalo games. The scoring has been there, but so have the chances for opponents. The Canadiens have conceded 3.75 goals per game while allowing only 25.8 shots. Montreal hasn't been making opposing teams work very hard for their goals.

Cole Caufield has five goals through eight games, and Nick Suzuki isn't far behind with four. Suzuki also leads Montreal with 10 points, while Lane Hutson has eight from the blue line. Josh Anderson and Zack Bolduc have four goals each. The goalie numbers are worth watching. Jacob Fowler has three wins, a .900 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average. Jakub Dobes has won once in four decisions, with a .841 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA. Montreal's power play has converted just 14.8% of its opportunities.

Injuries: Florian Xhekaj, Sam Montembeault, Ivan Demidov and Bryce Pickford are on injured reserve. Mike Matheson is day-to-day.

Key To The Game

Montreal has several players producing goals, but the Canadiens have also been giving up too many. San Jose needs Celebrini involved and will want chances on the power play. Neither starting goalie is confirmed, and that matters with such different results from the options in each net.

San Jose Sharks vs Montreal Canadiens Pick

• Montreal Canadiens

Montreal has won three of its last four, even if those victories required overtime or a shootout. Suzuki and Caufield are scoring regularly, and the Canadiens have more players contributing goals than San Jose. Celebrini gives the Sharks a dangerous playmaker, but their goaltending has been inconsistent. Montreal has a 3-2-0 home record entering this game. The Canadiens will take advantage of San Jose's defensive problems and win Tuesday night.

San Jose Sharks vs Montreal Canadiens Over/Under Pick

• Over

Neither team has done enough to keep opponents off the scoreboard. Montreal is allowing 3.75 goals per game, and San Jose is giving up 3.50. The Canadiens have scored four goals in three of their last four games, while the Sharks gave up four in Detroit. Both clubs have goaltenders with save percentages below .850, adding to the concern. Expect scoring opportunities for both sides. This game will finish over.