Game 10
Buffalo Sabres (5-4-0) at Montreal Canadiens (5-1-2)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | KeyBank Center | Buffalo
TV: MSG
Radio: WGR550
SB Nation Montreal Canadiens Blog: Eyes on the Prize
Know your Opponent
Montreal Canadiens
Record: 5-1-2 | 12 PTS
Last 10: 5-1-2
Division Ranking: 1st in the Atlantic Division
Conference Ranking: 3rd in the Western Conference
PP: T-16th (20.6%)
PK: 16th (77.8%)
What to Watch
1.) Skinner’s Bringing the Heat
Jeff Skinner has been a lights-out goalscorer these last two games, netting 4 goals. Hard to argue with that kind of performance to close a long road trip. Even better news for the Sabres? Skinner has 17 points in 25 career games against the Canadiens. Expect him to keep the heat turned up on Thursday night.
2.) Sabres Power-Play
Thursday night’s game against Montreal will mark the 13th matchup of Jack Eichel’s young career. In 12 career games, Eichel is goal-less with only 4 assists. Will Thursday be the moment Eichel breaks through or will we have to wait another day for an Eichel goal against the Canadiens?
3.) Familiar Faces in the Lineup
Whenever the Buffalo Sabres take on the Montreal Canadiens, it begins to feel like Alumni Night at the arena. In Montreal’s projected lineup are three former Sabres forwards. Joel Armia, Paul Byron and Nicolas Deslauriers have all had time playing with the Sabres and it always feels like these three turn their games up a little more when they find themselves playing Buffalo.
Buffalo Sabres projected lines
Jeff Skinner – Jack Eichel – Jason Pominville
Conor Sheary – Vladmir Sobotka – Sam Reinhart
Evan Rodrigues – Casey Mittelstadt – Kyle Okposo
Patrik Berglund – Johan Larsson – Zemgus Girgensons
Jake McCabe – Rasmus Ristolainen
Marco Scandella – Zach Bogosian
Rasmus Dahlin – Casey Nelson
Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton (unconfirmed)
Montreal Canadiens Projected Lines
Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher
Jonathan Drouin – Max Domi – Artturi Lehkonen
Paul Byron – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia
Nicolas Deslauriers – Matthew Peca – Andrew Shaw
Karl Alzner – Jeff Petry
Xavier Ouellet – Jordie Benn
Mike Reilly – Noah Juulsen
Starting Goaltender: Antti Niemi