SAN JOSE – One year ago, just hours after the 2015 NHL trade deadline, the Sharks hosted the Canadiens at SAP Center and went on to win by a four-goal margin.
On Monday they did the exact same thing, beating down Montreal, 6-2, shortly after finding out that there would be no more significant additions or subtractions to their dressing room.
And that’s where the similarities end.
Looking more and more like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, the Sharks rolled four lines against Montreal, with three of them contributing offensively. Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski combined for three goals, while second liner Nick Spaling, fourth liner Melker Karlsson and defenseman Brent Burns all found the back of the net, too.