Canadiens sputter to 5th straight loss

It was a familiar sight in yet another Montreal Canadiens defeat: The offense was virtually non-existent.

Timo Meier scored twice and backup goaltender Aaron Dell made 30 saves to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 4-1 victory over the Canadiens on Tuesday night.

Montreal nearly kept pace with the Sharks in the shots-on-goal department, losing that battle 33-31, but Andrew Shaw's second-period marker was all the Canadiens had to show for it.

Shaw's goal was only the fourth by the Canadiens during their five-game losing skid.

It won't get any easier for Montreal. Next up is a date with the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.