Montreal, Quebec (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres make their first visit to Montreal on Thursday to play the Canadiens since 2022. Buffalo has played Montreal twice this season at home and lost both games.
In October, it was Jake Allen made to look like Dominik Hasek in goal, as he made 36 saves in a 3-1 win.
In December, it was Cayden Primeau playing the role of Hasek, as he made 46 saves in a 3-2 shootout victory. It was Buffalo’s only shootout of the season, which is the main reason they sit where they do in the standings.
Sabres head coach Don Granato had no appetite to go back and talk about that shootout loss, because he wants his team in the here and now. He feels they haven’t been doing enough of that.
"I’m certainly not worried about last game, because we’ve got to get in the moment," said Granato on Thursday following the optional morning skate. "There’s been too much talk about the past, too much talk about concern for this or that. We need to get into the moment. We haven't been in the moment with any consistency this year, and this is the next game. That should be everything to elevate the compete, and stay in the moment."
Buffalo hasn’t played since Sunday in Ottawa, and the inactivity has put them further behind in the Eastern Conference.
The main reason they’re now eight points out of the eighth and final playoff spot is they lead the Eastern Conference with 19 regulation losses. That means they’ve played 19 games where they haven’t picked up a point.
Buffalo comes in with 16 losses in its last 24 games. This team just can’t score goals, as they have just five goals in three games, and are 24th in the league, averaging 2.92 goals per-game.
It doesn’t help that Tage Thompson is on a 29-goal pace over 82 games. That has been improving lately, though, as he has three goals and three assists for six points in his last five games.
Alex Tuch would have 24 goals over 82 games, Dylan Cozens is on a 14-goal pace over 82 games, and Victor Olofsson is on track for 11 goals over 82 games.
There are a few players producing this season in Buffalo.
JJ Peterka has no goals in nine games, but is on a 26-goal pace this season.
Meanwhile, Jeff Skinner is on a 35-goal pace for Buffalo. He has played five games against Montreal as a member of the Sabres and has eight goals and four assists for 12 points.
Since returning from offseason Achilles surgery, Jack Quinn has three goals in six games.
Devon Levi will get the start in net once again. He let in four goals on Sunday in Ottawa, but faced numerous outnumbered rushes and made some great saves.
This will be Levi’s first NHL game in his hometown of Montreal. The 22-year-old has given up 15 goals in his last four starts, winning one of them.
Overall this season, Levi is 7-6-2 with a 3.36 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage.
Casey Mittelstadt leads the team in scoring with 31 points in 38 games. He has done well at 5-on-5 this year, as he's 11th in the NHL in even-strength scoring with 28 points.
Buffalo is 29th in the NHL on the power play, while Montreal is 30th on the penalty kill.
On the other side, Nick Suzuki leads Montreal in scoring with 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points in 37 games.
The Canadiens broke a three-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 4-3 win in Dallas over the Stars. It was a seven-game trip that spanned North America, going from Winnipeg to Minnesota, Chicago, Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay and ending in Dallas. Montreal was a respectable 3-3-1 on the trip.
Montreal is even worse at scoring goals than Buffalo, as they’re 27th in the NHL at 2.78 goals per-game.
Allen will get the call in net once again for the Canadiens. He’s 4-7-2 this season with a 3.40 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
When they’re not playing Buffalo, the Habs also have trouble keeping the puck out of their net. They’re 24th in the league this season with a 3.38 goals-against average.
Join Mike Schopp and the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST when you’ll hear from Granato, Levi and Luukkonen.
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