Sharks blow out Canadiens, 6-2

SAN JOSE – San Jose topped the visiting Montreal Canadiens 6-2 Monday night to move within four points of the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Kings.
The Sharks scored three goals in the third period to reach 74 points, good for third in the division and sixth in the Western Conference
San Jose completes the week with two games against Vancouver, Thursday on the Canucks ice and Saturday night at SAP Center.
Melker Karlsson worked a give-and-go with Chris Tierney before heading to the Montreal blueline and connecting for his eighth goal of the year 2:14 into the third period for a 4-2 advantage.
Nick Spaling, in his fourth game for San Jose after a trade from Toronto, came up with his second goal within one week. Logan Couture’s one-timer was deflected and Spalding turned the loose puck into a goal from close range at 3:37.
Joe Pavelski added his second goal of the night and 29^th of the season when he scored at 14:50.
Joe Thornton picked up two points in the first period and another in the second as the Sharks carried a 3-2 lead into the third period.
Montreal came into the game eight points from the fourth spot in the Atlantic Division. Veteran goaltender Cary Price has been out of action for 40 games, leaving most of the netminding duties to Mike Condon.
The Sharks opened the scoring on the team’s third shot on net. Thornton was in position at the left post and turned Pavelski’s deflection toward Thornton into a quick jam inside the post past Condon at the 3:11 mark.
Montreal responded with a goal at the 5:26 mark. Brendan Gallagher controlled the puck at the right sideboards before gliding a low shot that skimmed past goaltender Martin Jones’ skate and into the netting for the winger’s 18^th goal of the season.
San Jose regained the lead for the rest of the game when Pavelski skated down the slot to chip the puck inside the top left corner of the net for his goal at the 15:55 mark. Thornton and Burns assisted, leaving Burns with his 400^th career point.  
Burns added his 21^st goal of the season 3:11 into the second period off a feed from Thornton.
Torrey Mitchell, who played in 280 games for the Sharks to begin his NHL career, posted his seventh goal of the season 12:32 into the second. The 31-year-old slapped Paul Byron’s shot past Jones for his first point against San Jose in 10 meetings.
In addition to Mitchell, Mike Brown was in the line-up for the Canadiens. San Jose placed Brown on waivers Sunday and was picked up by Montreal Monday.