Sharks Lose 1st Game in Montreal in a Decade, 4-3 in OT

MONTREAL — The San Jose Sharks visit Bell Centre to take on the Montreal Canadiens.

The Sharks are looking for their ninth-straight victory in Montreal: The last time that they lost here, remarkably, was Mar. 21, 2015.

Fabian Zetterlund and Nico Sturm and Will Smith scored, but the Sharks lost in OT 4-3.

Period 1

First touch by Thrun, off back of net to Walman, just not there. That’s the execution stuff that Thrun needs to clean up. He wasn’t really under duress and he had the right play in mind, just poor execution, too soft a pass.

1 in: Mukhamadullin closes decisively along wall, maybe Dvorak? Like. There’s both skating and anticipation.

2 in: Liljegren slashes in for attack, off beaut Kostin NZ pass, started by routine but perfectly executed Vlasic bounce pass past forechecker to the winger. Compare the Vlasic play to the more routine Thrun minor mistake earlier.

Zetterlund goal: Smith flags down puck, tucks a beaut backhand to Zetterlund, Hutson can’t clear him out.

3 in: Mukhamadullin flying in, right on time to meet Evans and stretch pass.

Suzuki goal: Simple as Celebrini loses it high, though re-watching, I think that’s a tough pass for Walman to make there, the Canadien is right on top of Celebrini. 2-on-1 from blueline to blueline. Wonder if Macklin was calling for it? Then I’d say that’s a little more on him. But otherwise, kind of a suicide pass.

San Jose Sharks had been playing well before Suzuki goal, but now have to weather the storm.

10 in: Smith doesn’t catch a hard pass from Liljegren on the wing. Was a topic a month ago, worth re-watching.

Sturm goal: Graf makes a nice move on entry to buy himself some space, crosses over Beck. Also like Kostin in NZ, just calm, makes the right play. Graf to Kostin, Sturm crashes the net.

5 left: Nice diagonal area clear pass by Goodrow, non-icing touch. Goodrow is good at this underrated skill, from my observation, over the years.

3 left: Nice hold of puck by Vlasic, Dvorak on top of him as F1. Those are little things, patience and first pass, that Vlasic still does at a genuine high level.

Beaut backhand Wennberg feed to Zetterlund, who misses on backhand bid in front.

Suzuki goal: Not sure why Georgiev wasn’t set there? Looks like Liljegren might have backed Caulfield into Georgiev a little? Vlasic can’t close on Suzuki quick enough either, that, of course, is why he’s not an every night guy anymore. Nice feed by Hutson too.

Period 2

F1 Celebrini strips Matheson one-on-one on opening shift, sets up Smith in slot. What a play from Celebrini.

3 in: Backhanded clean catch of rim by Celebrini behind net, quick to Eklund.

5 in: Under duress, good puck battle win by Thrun vs. Beck, gets it up.

6 in: Good job by Goodrow to stand up for Dellandrea, taken hard, back wasn’t turned, near boards by Struble. Clean, but I never mind standing up for your guy, long as it’s even up. Goodrow has been doing that a lot this year.

Nice job by Eklund high and Celebrini skating into slot to find passing lanes, leads to Toffoli chance. Really super job by Eklund, Slafkovsky bearing down.

10 in: Signature behind the net tuck pass from Eklund to Celebrini. Love.

8 left: Nice move by Mukhamadullin, receives first pass from Ferraro along wall, little move, leaves forechecking Canadien spinning in his wheels.

6 left: Whelp easy Vlasic to Liljegren connection misses, not sure why, but Habs all over it. But San Jose Sharks survive, one play that stands out is Celebrini seeing Slafkovsky coming for him along wall. Celebrini, like I’ve observed, is good at avoiding brunt of hits, he’s always looking up.

4 left: Have to re-watch, but feel like Kunin needs to be able to handle that Mukhamadullin first pass to DZ slot. Not on target, but it was soft. Stop it with your skate? Easy for me to say. But it’s a turnover, becomes a little fire drill. Sharks have played pretty well, except for these simple execution things.

Smith goal: There you go, Mukh! Mukhamadullin springs the 2-on-1 off draw.

Fun Suzuki vs. Celebrini puck pursuit there. Celebrini can’t take it, but he makes what should be a routine play for Suzuki hard.

1 left: Really fantastic Graf shift, 3 Sharks back accepting Canadiens rush, he jumps Newhook pass before entry, turns it back to feed Wennberg for a in-tight breakaway. Then backchecks hard to keep puck from Newhook on exit. Love love love.

Period 3

Newhook goal: Newhook gets revenge on Graf. Newhook pounces on deflected pass by Liljegren in front, Graf maybe a little puck-watching?

Graf penalty: Pure Hutson there, drawing that. Huge kill.

7 in: Good Walman PK block down low

8 in: Sturm so smart, manipulates Ferraro’s broken stick into slot to prevent the cross-slot pass. He was moving the broken stick like a puzzle piece.

Whoa Ferraro's stick broke twice on same PK, his and Wennberg's stick

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 28, 2025

Mukhamadullin penalty: He doesn’t like it, and I don’t either, but he’s in the box. Anderson goes down easy.

9 left: Walman determined on Armia along wall. Like.

8 left: Celebrini feels due. So many chances, just shook Carrier there to get his shot. San Jose Sharks also feel due for a make-up call, a late PP.

5 left: Nice job by Toffoli, something out of nothing forecheck on Matheson, first line chance.

Smith on the forecheck against Matheson…doesn’t get erased with ease. Wonder if he’s noticeably stronger too? Development days, baby!

1 left: Appreciate how Toffoli knows himself. Veteran. Celebrini stretches to him, but he’s flat-footed and has a Hab in front of him, just flips it to the goalie, positive play, gets an OZ faceoff. He doesn’t force an entry against a D who will be on top of him.

OT

Celebrini-Wennberg-Smith to start.