Sabres Need to Step Up Yet Again
Montreal Canadiens (28-15-7) vs Buffalo Sabres (27-17-5)
Puck Drop: 7:00 pm Eastern Time | Bell Centre | Montreal, Quebec
TV: MSG-B, ESPN+
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Montreal Canadiens
Record: (28-15-7) | 63 PTS
Last Game: Beat the Wild 4-3
Division Ranking: 3rd place in the Atlantic
PP: 9th, 23.4% (Sabres: 21st, 19.3%)
PK: 26th, 77.4% (Sabres: 7th, 82.8%)
What to Watch
1. Four Point Game
The Sabres have been in and out of the two Wild Card spots in the East for weeks now. But they could take a big step towards unseating Montreal from that 3rd spot in the division with a regulation win today. The Habs currently have 4 more points than Buffalo, which could be closed to just 2 tonight. (Sabres have 1 game in hand) A Montreal victory in regulation would really hurt, keeping the Blue and Gold stuck in that Wild Card range. Buffalo is deep into this compacted part of the schedule, with many games jam packed within a small window of time. It has to be tough on the players as the Olympic break looms. Tonight’s contest with the Canadiens will be the Sabres 7th game in 11 days.
Oct 20, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff during the second period of the game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
2. Getting the Job Done
We know who the main scorers on this team are and the hard working grinders that give their all. Everybody has a few favorite Sabres that stand out to them. I thought I would highlight a player who has been bringing it every night and maybe hasn’t been noticed enough.
Zach Metsa was not in Buffalo’s plans to start this season but he has filled in nicely. In fact, when Kesselring made his one game return, it was Bryson and not Metsa who got sat that game. I love a big, experienced defensmen who will dominate a game physically. By all accounts, Metsa isn’t that player at all, standing at just 5″9 with only 20 games under his NHL belt. That hasn’t mattered though as Zach has been a steady force on the bottom pairing. He uses his nearly 200 pound compact frame well, maintaining good position on his opponents. Zach has a good first pass out of his zone and uses his attributes fully. He is a rock solid +13, tied for 2nd on the team with Ryan McLeod. Metsa was rewarded with his first NHL a few weeks back and it was amazing to see that smile on his face. I’m not sure what the long term plan is for this guy with Buffalo. He wasn’t supposed to be here. This nice run he is having with the Sabres right now might be the entire NHL career for this 27 year old Wisconsin native. If so, know you have made a difference Zach. Know that your contributions have helped this team seemingly get over the hump. You might be the answer to a trivia question one day… “Who was that defenseman that filled in so nicely the year Buffalo ended the dreaded playoff drought?” I know I will remember.
3. Digging Doan’s Extension
Josh Doan is having a great first season with the Sabres and GMJK has rewarded him with a new contract. Doan has signed a seven year, 6.95 million per season extension. The 23 year old has a great work ethic, competes every night and is showing off his offense skills this season like never before. The kid gives Zach Benson a run for his money for the title of hardest working Sabre.
I love this deal for Buffalo. He is locked up long term with several other core players like Tage and Dahlin. His yearly salary nearly matches that of TNT but Thompson’s deal was a good one at the time too. In today’s market, this was a good signing for Jarmo in my opinion. If Doan continues to improve and be an impact player, this deal will look pretty sweet just a few years from now. No drama, no Buffalo tax, just a solid signing for a solid Sabre with even more upside. Josh obviously likes the direction of the team and this will be a good signal to others that Buffalo has something good going here.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Josh Doan – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Konsta Helenius – Noah Ostlund – Zach Benson
Tyson Kozak – Peyton Krebs – Beck Malenstyn
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Jacob Bryson – Zach Metsa
Goalies
Ukko Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon
Montreal Canadiens
Forwards
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Kirby Dach
Juraj Slafkovsky – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov
Brendan Gallagher – Phillip Danault – Josh Anderson
Joe Veleno – Jake Evans – Zack Bolduc
Defense
Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
Lane Hutson – Jayden Struble
Kaiden Guhle – Alexandre Carrier
Goalies
Sam Montembeault, Jakub Dobes