Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres @ Montreal Canadiens

Playing with fire is what the Buffalo Sabres have done in their last three games. Although the group has managed to erase a third period deficit and earn a win in each case, it's not the most comfortable formula. Ryan Miller himself mentioned that the team cannot begin games like this where they are largely outshot in the first frame or half of the match.

This is the fourth meeting of the year between Buffalo and Montreal with the Sabres winning the previous two in regulation. The Canadiens trail them by nine points having played three more matches and the Northeast Division crown remains with the blue and gold. To be in this position halfway through the season is assuring.

Ten thoughts on the contest below.

• It'll be Miller versus Jaroslav Halak this afternoon. The Sabres netminder has been very ordinary recently winning just one of his last four starts allowing 13 goals but it's hard to blame him with the lack of assistance he's gotten. Halak has won five of six yet has been beaten ten times in two matches with Buffalo.
  
• Montreal is simply a new squad since the return of Andrei Markov who has 11 points in seven games. Winning six of those seven, the Canadiens have also improved on the powerplay incredibly as they are now the top unit at 25.2 per cent immensely because of the Russian. 
• Derek Roy missed two games with an upper body injury and returned against Atlanta Friday to pot the overtime winner. This gives him a team-best four game-winners and points in four consecutive games. Tim Connolly has also come around with eight points on a five-game scoring streak.
  
• Tomas Plekanec has 12 points in seven games, Mike Cammalleri has points in six straight and even Scott Gomez is producing well. The offense is looking extraordinary and you can again connect that to Markov.
  
• Buffalo's powerplay is 24th in the league but the penalty kill is alive and well for the most part as the sixth best. Stupid penalties will have to be avoided or Montreal will capitalize.
  
• Patrick Kaleta and Nathan Gerbe are day-to-day. Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn are questionable for this one as is Paul Mara.
  
• Montreal has scored 24 times in the seven games Markov has participated in with 11 coming on the man-advantage.
  
• The Sabres have been outplayed and outshot in first periods by a 62-20 margin in five games. At home, it's been a 39-7 deficit in three matches during the opening 20 minutes.  
• Marc-Andre Bergeron has 12 points in 14 games as a fourth line forward but he still enjoys quarterbacking the powerplay with Markov (who wouldn't?) where a lot of his production erupts from.
• Thomas Vanek hasn't scored more than four goals in any month thus far. It's easier to put up with when the Sabres are winning mostly.
  

If Buffalo finds itself in a hole for the fourth straight match, it won't be pretty. They have to initiate contact and win battles in the corners to come out with a strong first period. A comeback again would be enjoyable to view but the thing about playing with fire is that you eventually get burned.