Rookie Jonathan Dahlen scored his first two NHL goals and drew a penalty that led to a power-play tally as the San Jose Sharks defeated the host Montreal Canadiens 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Goaltender Adin Hill made 21 saves to post his first shutout with the Sharks since being acquired in an offseason trade with Arizona.
Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson each added a goal and two assists as the Sharks won for the 10th consecutive time against the Canadiens. Kevin Labanc also scored and Logan Couture had two assists.
Montreal goalie Jake Allen, playing for Carey Price while he’s in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, stopped 20 of 25 shots.
The Canadiens, who reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, have lost their first four games of this campaign and been outscored 15-3. That’s their worst start to a season since they lost five in a row in 1995-96.
Dahlen, the son of former longtime NHL player Ulf Dahlen, scored twice in the opening 3:36.
The first came 1:22 into the game. Brent Burns’ slap shot was tipped in the high slot by Meier, then Dahlen got a stick on it at the top of the crease to beat Allen.
The Sharks made it 2-0 just over two minutes later as Dahlen converted a rebound of a shot by Logan Couture on a 2-on-1 break.
Karlsson scored on a shot from the point that deflected off the skate of Canadiens defenseman David Savard and past Allen at 19:22 of the first to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead.
Dahlen drew a slashing call on Montreal rookie Cole Caufield early in the second period and the Sharks converted on the ensuing man advantage, as Meier scored at 3:09 on a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle past a screened Allen.
Labanc capped the scoring with a power-play goal at 14:31 of the third.
The Sharks were without forward Evander Kane, suspended 21 games Monday for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
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–Field Level Media