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The Canadiens generally manage to rise to the challenge when they are facing a tough opponent, but all too often they offer subpar effort against teams they should be able to beat. Today’s opponents, the San Jose Sharks, fall squarely the latter category. The Sharks are dead last in the standings and have only got three wins on the season. For several years (from 1999 to 2021) the Canadiens were unable to win at the Sharks Tank, but they’ve had better luck of late.

Still without a goal this season, Josh Anderson was seen taking shots on the ice yesterday prior to practice. Head coach Martin St-Louis said it was the best way to get his confidence back and that on the ice, he shouldn’t be solely thinking about scoring a goal, he should be focusing on positive actions on the ice, on actions that will hell him score a goal and allow him to score more in time.

After Samuel Montembeault stole a win in Anaheim, it will be Cayden Primeau’s turn to man the net in San Jose. It should be a change of pace for the young netminder since he’s had to take on much more formidable foes this season, facing the Devils, Red Wings and Golden Knights so far. Last season, after a performance like the one he gave in Anaheim, Montembeault would have been given the net for a second game in a row, but not this year, not with three goaltenders on the roster, and not with rumors swirling about a possible goalie trade. The Oilers are believed to be taking a good hard look at the Canadiens’ three goaltenders, and Kent Hughes might have asked his coach to keep going with the rotation.

Aside from the change of netminder, don’t expect other changes to the line-up, meaning that Norlinder should still be the odd man out. The game is set for 3:30 PM so you get the best of both worlds today, an early hockey fix and a free night to go out in the Black Friday deals jungle.

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