GAME DAY | Sabres – Canadiens: Preview, Lines, Goalies, TV, Fantasy
Jordan Lambe
Pre-game Notes and Quotes
Mac Pacioretty: “The fact that we’ve been in every game this year pretty much for the most part and we’ve battled hard no matter who’s in the lineup and we’ve showed up to play pretty much every night, I think it says a lot about the character of the coaches and the management that we firmly believe that we have the right recipe here. It’s just a matter of putting it all together and making it work.”
Phillip Danault on his first goal as a Canadien: “I had butterflies in my stomach before the game, but the fans were just so amazing. It was an incredible feeling to score and hear the crowd cheer my name. I received several text messages, it was really nice to see the support of everyone, I really appreciated it. I hold that memory in the same category as my first NHL goal [which occurred earlier this year with the Chicago Blackhawks]. I thought I played better last game but I’m never quite satisfied”.
Alex Galchenyuk has finally emerged as a top threat on the Canadiens’ offensive unit. With 9 goals in his last seven games (and 5 points in his past 2 games), it is quite apparent that Galchenyuk is breaking out and deserves to center the top line.
Buffalo Goaltender, Robin Lehner, is coming off a terrible start against the Rangers on Tuesday; he was pulled in the second period after allowing 3 goals on 14 shots. Outside of this performance, Lehner has proven to be a bright spot on a very lowly Sabres squad this season.
While the Canadiens have a 25-14-3 record versus teams in the Eastern Conference this season, the Sabres have a 16-21-4 record against teams from the East.
So far this season, the Canadiens have a 13-6-1 record versus teams in the Atlantic division, while the Stars have a 9-11-4 record versus teams coming from the Atlantic.
The Canadiens have moved up in the standings for the goals against category, as they are currently in 20th in the league in goals against, with 188 in 67 games. The Sabres have allowed 185 goals in 68 games and find themselves in 19th in the league.
The Canadiens have moved up in the standings for the goals scored category as they are currently in 11th place in the NHL, with 183 over their first 67 games. The Sabres are 27th in this category with 162 goals scored in their first 68 games.
Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC.. | March 10, 7:30 PM ET | TV: RDS, SN, SN360, NHL.TV, MSG-B
2015-16 statistics
SABRES
CANADIENS
63 (15th)
Points (Eastern Conf. rank)
68 (13th)
27-32-9
Record
31-30-6
12-18-5
Home
18-11-3
15-14-4
Road
13-19-3
4-4-2
Last 10
4-4-2
2.38
G/G
2.73
2.72
GA/G
2.81
19.4
PP%
17.1
81.6
PK%
84.2
46.4
CF%*
52.3
48.2
CF60*
55.5
55.8
CA60*
50.6
*Advanced statistics: Score adjusted, even strength. CF%: Corsi for percentage of total CF60: Corsi For/60 minutes CA60: Corsi Against/60 minutes (via War on Ice)
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
