Pregame Preview #20: Sharks Need To Respond; Host Canadiens

The San Jose Sharks (3-15-1) host the Montreal Canadiens (8-9-2) in a Friday matinee where the Sharks will honor Dan Rusanowsky.

San Jose is coming off a 7-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken, where head coach David Quinn was unhappy with the performance.

"Embarrassing! We weren't ready to play," Quinn said after last game. "Two breakaways in the first minute and a half. I mean, just absolutely freaking embarrassing. We lost every single battle."

Quinn confirmed that Mackenzie Blackwood will start in goal, and Nico Sturm will return to the lineup. Jan Rutta was injured in the last game and is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Matt Benning is close to returning and could be in the lineup for Team Teal.

"We just have to play faster," Quinn said this morning. "I'm anxious to see how we respond after what happened the other night in Seattle." 

Sharks projected lineup:

Eklund-Hertl-Zetterlund
Zadina-Granlund-Duclair
Hoffman-Sturm-Labanc
Smith-Carpenter-Kunin

Ferraro-Emberson
Knyzhov-Benning
Okhotiuk-Addison

Blackwood
Kahkonen

The Canadiens did not hold a media scrum this morning, but head coach Martin St-Louis announced that Cayden Primeau would start in goal. 

Puck drop is at 12:30 p.m. PST and can be seen on NBC Sports California or the Sharks Audio Network. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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