The Sharks pulled off Tuesday night at the Bell Center what most coaches would call the perfect road game.
Matt Nieto scored early in the first period, then Kaapo Kahkonen closed the door with 28 saves and the San Jose squad defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-0.
The Canadian sometimes had difficulty countering the Sharks’ forecheck. And when he managed to settle in the opposing zone, Kahkonen had all the answers.
The 26-year-old Finnish goaltender recorded his first shutout this season, his third career in the NHL.
The Habs’ numerical advantage could have made the difference. However, both units were ineffective and the Canadiens finished the game with a 0-for-6 record.
Logan Couture had a goal and an assist, while Tomas Hertl hit the target twice for the Sharks (8-13-4), which snapped a three-game losing streak. Kevin Labanc had two assists.
Jake Allen stopped 20 shots in front of the net for the Canadian (11-10-1), who had won his two previous games.
Jordan Harris was back on the Canadian blue line patrol. Arber Xhekaj was left out.
The Canadiens will play their next four games in Western Canada and in Seattle. His first stop will be in Calgary on Thursday for a duel against the Flames.
CH in check
Nieto put the Sharks ahead in scoring after just 1:33 of play. He took advantage of a loose puck after Alexander Barabanov tried to outspeed Allen around the net.
The head coach of the Canadiens, Martin St-Louis, disputed the goal, believing that Barabanov had beaten Couture and the puck entering the zone. The game looked very tight on the restart, but the goal was finally awarded to the Sharks.
Cole Caufield got the best scoring chance of the Canadian in the first period during a power play. Nick Suzuki gave him a great cross pass, but Kahkonen completed his side move in time and managed to make the save.
Brendan Gallagher also came close to scoring before the end of the first period, but he hit the crossbar on an overrun attack.
Christian Dvorak scored for the Habs 4:42 into the second period. However, the goal was immediately disallowed as the referee called a penalty against Evgenii Dadonov, who shoved defender Nick Cecik into his net. In his fall, Cecik had knocked Kahkonen off balance.
The Sharks then took four minor penalties in a row before the end of the second period. The Canadian was unable to take advantage of it.
Meanwhile at the other end of the rink, Barabanov beat Allen with less than five minutes to go, but his shot slammed into the post.
Even at five against three for 55 seconds to start the third period, the Canadian was unable to challenge Kahkonen.
The Sharks then increased their grip on the win with two goals within 75 seconds.
Hertl first scored at 2:29 by deflecting a throw-in from Labanc into the top of the net. Couture then foiled Allen between the pads on a breakaway.
True to form, the Canadian did not give up. Even the fourth line generated good chances, but neither Michael Pezzetta nor Juraj Slafkovsky managed to find the back of the net.
Hertl added an empty-netter with 2:14 to go.