NHL Preview: Buffalo Sabres (15-19-4) at Montreal Canadiens (16-16-5)

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Montreal Canadiens logo

BUFFALO SABRES NOTES:

CURRENT INJURIES

– (Man Games Lost: 119) Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed

Kyle Okposo (lower body) – 0 games

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS

1/1: Assigned goaltender Eric Comrie to Rochester (AHL)

TONIGHT’S GAME

SABRES AT CANADIENS

• This is the third of four meetings between the Sabres and Canadiens this season. • Last meeting: Montreal defeated Buffalo 3-2 (SO) in Buffalo on Dec. 9. • Next meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 21 in Montreal • The Sabres are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games against the Canadiens; 4-5-1 on the road. • This is the 295th game all-time between Buffalo and Montreal; Buffalo has a 134-117-43 series record. • The Sabres are 57-74-14 on the road against the Canadiens all-time.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

• The Sabres have earned more wins (134) against the Canadiens than they have against any other NHL team. • In his last eight games, Casey Mittelstadt has registered nine points (4+5). • Tage Thompson has recorded six points (3+3) in his last five games. • Jeff Skinner has tallied five points (3+2) in his last five games. • Owen Power has recorded three assists in his last three games. • Alex Tuch has tallied seven points (1+6) in his last eight games.

HOT AGAINST THE HABS

• Since being acquired by Buffalo, Jeff Skinner has recorded 25 points (14+11) in 15 games against Montreal, including two fivepoint performances and four multi-goal games in that span. • In that span, Skinner has registered more multi-point games (7) than games without a point (4) against Montreal. • Skinner has 12 points (8+4) in five career games in Montreal as a member of the Sabres. • Tage Thompson has tallied 10 points (5+5) in 10 career games against Montreal, including five points (1+4) in his last three games against the Canadiens. • Thompson has recorded five points (2+3) in three road games against Montreal in his career. • Alex Tuch has registered 11 points (3+8) in his last 10 games against the Canadiens. • Since joining the Sabres, Tuch has notched six points (1+5) in three games in Montreal. • In his last seven games against Montreal, Connor Clifton has recorded seven points (1+6).

MONTREAL CANADIENS NOTES:

À SURVEILLER CE SOIR / KEEP AN EYE ON…

– Les Canadiens et les Sabres s’affrontent ce soir pour la 295e fois en saison régulière. En ajoutant les matchs de séries, ce sera la 330e confrontation entre les deux équipes.

– The Canadiens and Sabres are facing each other for the 295th time in regular season. Including the playoffs, this will be the 330th match-up between the two teams.

INJURY REPORT

Player Date Injury Games lost Return

K. Dach 14/10/2023 Genou / Knee 35

J. Harris 18/11/2023 Bas du corps / Lower-body 15 28/12/2023

R. Harvey-Pinard 16/11/2023 Bas du corps / Lower-body 21

A. Newhook 30/11/2023 Cheville / Ankle 14

T. Pearson 09/12/2023 Haut du corps / Upper-body 10

C. Price – Genou / Knee 37 – C. Wideman – Dos / Back 37

CANADIENS NOTES

THE HABS VS. EVERY DIVISION THIS SEASON

Division Fiche Record PTS Buts pour* Goals for * Buts contre* Goals against*

Atlantique 4-5-3 11 34 45

Centrale 5-4-1 11 30 32

Métropolitaine 4-2-0 8 21 20

Pacifique 3-5-1 7 21 31

Total 16-16-5 37 106 128

CANADIENS VS. BUFFALO

À vie / All-Time

CANADIENS vs. BUF 129-115-31-19 (294 PJ / GP)

Dom. / Home 76-47-12-10 (145 PJ / GP) Étr. /

Away 53-68-19-9 (149 PJ / GP) Dern. Match /

Last game: VTB 3-2 SOW @ BUF (09/12/23)

C. Primeau 2-48 | D. Levi 2-31

BG / WG: J. Slafkovsky (TB/SO)

LAST 10 GAMES VS. BUFFALO:

09/12/23 – MTL 3 @ BUF 2 (TB/SO)

23/10/23 – MTL 3 @ BUF 1

27/03/23 – MTL 4 @ BUF 3 (TB/SO)

22/11/23 – BUF 7 @ MTL 2

27/10/22 – MTL 3 @ BUF 2

23/02/22 – BUF 0 @ MTL 4

13/02/22 – BUF 5 @ MTL 3

26/11/21 – MTL 1 @ BUF 4

14/10/21 – MTL 1 @ BUF 5

30/01/20 – MTL 3 @ BUF 1

LEADING GOAL SCORERS VS. BUFFALO:

1) Brendan Gallagher (18-4-22, 37 pj/gp)

2) Sean Monahan (8-13-21, 20 pj/gp)

3) Joel Armia (6-4-10, 15 pj/gp)

LEADING SCORERS VS. BUFFALO:

1) Brendan Gallagher (18-4-22, 37 pj/gp)

2) Sean Monahan (8-13-21, 20 pj/gp)

3) Tanner Pearson (5-8-13, 17 pj/gp)

MOST PENALTY MINUTES VS. BUFFALO:

1) Brendan Gallagher (19, 37 pj/gp)

2) David Savard (16, 26 pj/gp)

3) Tanner Pearson (11, 17 pj/gp)

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