The Montreal Canadiens (66%) are heavily favored over the San Jose Sharks tonight at the Bell Centre.
One of the bigger mismatches is Chris Kreider's line against San Jose's inexperienced second unit, and my Sharks vs. Canadiens prediction banks on him taking advantage.
Let's break down my NHL picks for Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Sharks vs Canadiens prediction: Under 6.5
I’m jumping on the Under to 52%.
The Montreal Canadiens sit 11th in expected-goal share at 5-on-5 and should control much of tonight's game against the San Jose Sharks, who rank 29th and are playing in the second half of a road back-to-back.
San Jose is known for its high-powered offense, but it ranks 24th in goals per game and 25th in shooting percentage. The Sharks haven’t lived up to their billing, and it’ll be difficult to get going with Montreal dominating possession.
However, Alex Nedeljkovic is tied with Ilya Sorokin for third in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (+1.2), and he will keep the Canadiens from truly running up the score.
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TOP PICK
Sharks vs Canadiens player prop: Chris Kreider Over 0.5 points
I’m backing Chris Kreider to pick up a point and would play it to 51%.
The Sharks are getting diced up defensively and spending a ton of time on their heels, which helps explain why they rank 29th in expected-goal share at full strength.
The second line — Ivar Stenberg, Michael Misa, and Kiefer Sherwood — has been particularly vulnerable. They’ve controlled just 26.8% of the expected goals while giving up 3.8 xG per 60.
That line can be exploited, and Kreider’s second unit will likely see more of that trio than anybody else.
COVERS INTEL: Kreider's line has controlled 65% of scoring chances since it was assembled, and it should tilt the ice against a struggling, fatigued defense.Sharks vs Canadiens combo
I’m combining the Under with the Canadiens moneyline and Juraj Slafkovsky to record 3+ shots on goal.
San Jose really struggled in road back-to-backs last season, dropping six of eight while averaging 23.5 shots per game.
Montreal’s strong possession profile should help the Habs squeeze a San Jose offense that hasn't shown much life out of the gate.
Slafkovsky has registered at least three SOG in four of his last five games and has looked much more dangerous since returning to the top line.
Sharks vs Canadiens combo
- Under 6.5
- Canadiens moneyline
- Juraj Slafkovsky Over 2.5 shots on goal
Sharks vs Canadiens goal scorer: Juraj Slafkovsky
Slafkovsky is off to a somewhat slow start, but this is a great spot to get going.
The Sharks are 23rd in expected goals against at 5-on-5 and are even worse on the penalty kill, ranking ahead of only the Canucks.
The Canadiens funnel Slafkovsky high-danger chances in front of the net on the power play, and he leads the team in xG on the man advantage.
Opportunities should be plentiful in all situations against this Sharks team, and tired legs could lead to more power plays for Montreal.
- Top picks: 11-7, +2.87 units
- Combos: 2-16, -8.0 units
Sharks vs Canadiens odds
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- Moneyline: Sharks 35% | Canadiens 66%
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (53%) | Under 6.5 (48%)
- Spread: Sharks +1.5 (56%) | Canadiens -1.5 (45%)
For the full slate of NHL matchups, check out our NHL odds board!
Sharks vs Canadiens trend
San Jose owns a 4-5 O/U record this season. Find more NHL betting trends.
How to watch Sharks vs Canadiens
| Location | Bell Centre, Montreal |
| Date | Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | RDS, TSN2, NBCSCA |
Sharks vs Canadiens latest injuries
Check out our NHL injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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