Preview: Sabres will face Price in Montreal

Game 16

Buffalo Sabres (7-6-2) vs Montreal Canadiens (8-5-2)

Season Series: 1-0 Sabres

• 10/25 - Sabres 4, Canadiens 3 (Coverage)

Puck Drop: 7:30 P.M. | Centre Bell | Montreal, QC

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Canadiens Blog: Eyes on the Prize

Know Your Opponent

Montreal Canadiens

Record: (8-5-2) | 18 PTS

Last 10: 5-4-1

Division Ranking: 4th in the Atlantic Division

Conference Ranking: 5th in the Eastern Conference

PP: 25th (15.3%)

PK: 7th (83.3%)

What to Watch

1. Carey Price

After orchestrating a late comeback victory against Antti Niemi in Buffalo last month, the Sabres will square-off with Carey Price tonight in Montreal. Price has struggled as of late, posting a paltry .867 save-percentage in his last four games. Buffalo will look to capitalize on his current cold streak.

2. Middle-Six Shuffle

Phil Housley made some tweaks to the Sabres’ middle-six forward group after Sunday’s loss against the New York Rangers. Sam Reinhart has been moved away from Conor Sheary and Casey Mittelstadt. Kyle Okposo will take his place on the de-facto second line while Reinhart lines up on the right side of the third line with Vladimir Sobotka and Evan Rodrigues.

3. Tough Road Ahead

The Canadiens are playing well to start the year. Despite their success, they’re actually one of the weaker opponents that the Sabres will face over their next six games. A win on the road tonight will be critical as they head into the portion of their schedule that features teams like the Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Winnipeg Jets, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Jason Pominville

Conor Sheary - Casey Mittelstadt - Kyle Okposo

Evan Rodrigues - Vladimir Sobotka - Sam Reinhart

Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Patrik Berglund

Defense

Jake McCabe - Rasmus Ristolainen

Rasmus Dahlin - Nathan Beaulieu

Marco Scandella - Zach Bogosian

Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark

Montreal Canadiens

Forwards

Tomas Tatar - Phillip Danault - Brendan Gallagher

Jonathan Drouin- Max Domi - Andrew Shaw

Kenny Agostino - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Artturi Lehkonen

Nicolas Deslauriers - Matthew Peca - Charles Hudon

Defense

Jordie Benn - Jeff Petry

Karl Alzner - Mike Reilly

Xavier Ouellet - Victor Mete

Starting Goaltender: Carey Price