Montreal, Quebec (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres just can’t seem to figure out the Montreal Canadiens this season. Going into Monday’s game in Montreal, they’re 0-3-0 against them and have been outscored 17-8.
Montreal’s power play is also 6-for-16 in the three games against the Sabres, while Buffalo’s is 1-for-11. You just can’t give a team 16 power plays in three games.
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki has seven points in the three games, and leads Montreal with 18 goals and 43 assists for 61 points in 60 games this season. He has points in four-straight games, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points.
When the Sabres got back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, head coach Lindy Ruff challenged them with a plan to get them back into the playoff race. Ruff wanted seven points from his group in the first five games, and it started well. The Sabres played almost five perfect periods out of six, beating the New York Rangers, 8-2, and the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2, after falling behind 2-0.
Then came an absolute disaster in Carolina, with the Sabres losing to the Hurricanes, 5-2. That was then followed by Saturday's loss at home to Montreal.
It’s Buffalo’s first two-game losing streak since they lost in Edmonton and Calgary in late January.
It’s typical of this team that they can’t even get through the first part of Ruff’s five-part challenge. To reach Ruff's goals now, they have to go 3-1-1 in each five-game segment.
They started the first segment 2-0-0, and are now 2-2-0. Even with a win on Monday would result in Buffalo falling one point short.
The penalty kill has fallen apart, giving up a power play goal in five-straight games and only killing 10-of-16 penalties. In the last three games, the power play is 1-for-8.
Ruff also said to accomplish their goal, special teams would have to be better. But they’ve only gotten worse.
In his last 24 games, Rasmus Dahlin leads the NHL with 25 assists.
James Reimer will either play Monday in Montreal or Tuesday at home against the San Jose Sharks. Reimer is 2-7-1 this season with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.
Buffalo didn't hold a morning skate on Monday.
Jason Zucker isn’t on the trip, so he’ll miss his third-straight game with a lower-body injury.
Montreal has won four-straight games after losing 8-of-9. The Habs have scored 17 goals in those four games.
Sam Montembeault had played five-straight games, and 7-of-8 until giving way to Jakub Dobes on Saturday. In his last four starts, he’s only given up six goals.
Overall this season, Montembeault is 21-21-3 with a 2.90 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage.
Tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. when you’ll hear from Ruff and Jacob Bryson.