Canadiens Honor Black Excellence Ahead of Key Matchup with Sharks

MONTREAL, Quebec – The Montreal Canadiens will honor the rich heritage and significant contributions of Quebec’s Black communities when they face the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre on Thursday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

This celebration of Black Excellence comes as the Canadiens strive for a third consecutive win in their push for a playoff spot. Currently, the Canadiens have shown momentum with back-to-back victories that have kept them competitive in the Eastern Conference.

As the team approaches the final stretch of the season with 24 games remaining, they look to capitalize on their upcoming matchups against non-playoff teams. The Canadiens are well-positioned to gain crucial points before embarking on a challenging road trip through Western Canada.

Meanwhile, the Sharks come into this game struggling, having not won in nearly a month and currently mired in a six-game losing streak, which includes a defeat to the Canadiens on February 4. San Jose has only secured six wins in 30 road games this season and will be aiming for a turnaround in Montreal.

In the first matchup of the season, the Canadiens edged the Sharks 4-3 in a thrilling contest. This Thursday, fans can expect an engaging game as both teams vie for a critical victory.

Key players to watch include Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, who has demonstrated impressive form with two goals and 12 hits in the last two games. The Canadiens will rely on Slafkovsky to maintain his high level of play in their postseason push.

On the other side, the Sharks’ Tyler Toffoli leads the team with 21 goals this season, including one against Montreal in their previous encounter. The Canadiens will need to keep a close eye on Toffoli to prevent him from finding his rhythm at the Bell Centre.

In terms of statistics, the Sharks possess a record of 15 wins, 36 losses, and 8 overtime losses, while the Canadiens stand at 27 wins, 26 losses, and 5 overtime losses. The Canadiens hold a notable advantage in several areas, including power play percentage and goals for per game.

The Canadiens will conduct a morning skate at the Bell Centre at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, and fans can catch Martin St-Louis‘ press conference and player availability at 11:00 a.m. for potential lineup updates. For the latest details, followers are encouraged to check the Canadiens’ official social media channels.