Sharks end losing streak

The Canadiens tied a franchise record for shots in a period with 27 in the first, six coming from Pacioretty. The home side was all over Jones and the Sharks in the first but couldn’t find the back of the net. Right after Couture s first injury, Hertl was moved up to second line center and stayed there for a while until Patrick Marleau assumed that role in mid-November. He had gone 0-4-1 since but is now 10-3-1 in road games. His best stops came in the third period, when he robbed Josh Beaulieu with a right pad about five minutes in, and then got his blocker on a Tomas Plekanec try on a loose puck with a minute and a half to go.

San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) falls onto Montreal Canadiens goalie Mike Condon (39) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, in Montreal.

The Sharks have lost six straight and seven of eight going into Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, falling to 14-14-1 overall and into fourth place in the Pacific Division.

Hertl s main concern, though, is just to have a solid game, regardless of who he s with or where he s playing, as the Sharks seek to end a six-game losing streak.

Jones made his eighth start in the last nine games, and made 26 saves on 27 shots.

Dale Weise had the goal for Montreal. Mike Condon stopped all six shots he faced in relief.

San Jose, which earned its first victory in December, is now 12-0-0 when leading after two periods.

Late in the first, after Montreal dominated much of the period, forward Alex Galchenyuk failed to drop back following an offensive pinch by P.K. Subban.

Stoll was waived on Monday after totaling just one goal and two assists in 29 games with the Rangers. Marleau received a pass from Joel Ward on an odd man rush and scored his 12 of the season.

Hertl, 22, has 13 points in 29 games, but just three goals.

Pavelski, the Sharks’ captain, made it 2-0 just 36 seconds into the second period.

At 9:19 of the second, another giveaway by Markov in his own zone, this time behind his net, gave the puck right to Joe Thornton. Weise finished the game with three shots on goal, a hit, and an even rating. Weise’s shot took a big deflection off Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s skate to fool Jones between the legs.

Therrien confirmed that he hopes to have Mitchell back in the lineup after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury and all the indications pointed that way during an uptempo workout. Vlasic led all Sharks players in ice time at 23:59, and his defense partner Justin Braun played one of his best games of the year, logging 23:52 of ice time to go along with two assists.

Notes: Logan Couture (arterial surgery) was not in the Sharks’ lineup.

One problem has been the power play, which is 0-for-16 in the last five games. Before the game, Montreal traded forward Christian Thomas to the Arizona Coyotes for Lucas Lessio. The Canadiens also put forward Zach Kassian on waivers…. Earlier on Tuesday, injured goaltender Carey Price won the 2015 Lou Marsh award as Canada’s top athlete.