Expect another high-intensity divisional battle on Saturday night

Buffalo Sabres (31-17-5) vs Montreal Canadiens (30-17-7)

Puck Drop: 7:00 pm ET | KeyBank Center, Buffalo NY

TV: MSG-B, NHLN

Radio: WGR 550, Sirius XM (app)

Know Your Opponent

Montreal Canadiens

Record: 30-17-7 | 67 PTS

Last Game: 7-3 win against Colorado Avalanche; 5-4-1 in last ten games

Division Ranking: 4th, Atlantic

PP: 7th, 23.6% (37/157) [Sabres: 18th, 19.5% (30/154)]

PK: 27th, 77.1% (135/175) [Sabres: 7th, 83.1% (118/142)]

What to Watch

1. Don’t Let Up

It feels like we repeat this for every game, and there’s always this nagging fear that a letdown game is just around the corner. The playoff level intensity the Sabres have been playing with for a couple of months now hasn’t really been dialed down, and that is great experience for when the regular season winds down and the postseason beckons.

With how wild the Atlantic Division has been, we cannot assume that the playoffs are a certainty quite yet. There is the distinct possibility that even a 100 points might not be enough to secure the wildcard spots in the East. Until then, just play every game like it’s the last one of the season.

2. He’s Got The Power

Criticized for years for a multitude of sins, not all of which were under his control, defenseman Owen Power is finally starting to show what he can really be. His offensive output is down compared to previous years as he’s focused on improving his defensive workrate. Power is doing a much better job of keeping shot lanes clear, shoveling opponents out of the blue paint, and his exit passes have drastically improved too.

His 21:30 per night is a little more than last season, but with Dahlin, Samuelsson and Byram chewing up more minutes than him the pressure is off Power and he’s been playing well. The 23-year-old leads all defensemen on the Sabres in Corsi For % and expected goals for (xGF%), and is second in shot share. His high danger Corsi For % is way ahead of another dmen too, with a lot of that coming as he leads the team in offensive zone starts with Lindy Ruff putting him in positions to succeed. For those who have been patient with him, Power is starting to repay that trust.

3. Fast and Furious

There is no better way to describe the Habs. They are fast, attack in waves and score furiously. If you get into a situation where you’re chasing the game, it can get away from you very quickly. The Canadiens score lots of goals, but they give up lots too.

That top line of Caufield, Suzuki and Texier is dangerous and can score in bunches. Suzuki has eight points in the last five, same as Dahlin. Caufield has six goals in the same span. The second line of Slafkovsky, Kapanen and Demidov are no slouches either, racking up nearly 120 points between them while top defenseman Hutson has 55 points, same as Tage Thompson. Buffalo leads the season series 2-1, and this final game could be decisive down the road.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Zach Benson – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Josh Doan – Noah Ostlund – Konsta Helenius
Tyson Kozak – Peyton Krebs – Beck Malenstyn

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Zach Metsa – Michael Kesselring

Goaltenders

Alex Lyon (projected starter), Colten Ellis

Montreal Canadiens

Forwards

Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Alexandre Texier
Juraj Slafkovsky – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov
Zack Bolduc – Jake Evans – Kirby Dach
Josh Anderson – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Defense

Lane Hutson – Noah Dobson
Mike Matheson – Kaiden Guhle
Arber Xhekaj – Alexandre Carrier

Goaltenders

Jakub Dobes (projected starter), Sam Montembeault