Habs in Buffalo | PREVIEW: MTL @ BUF

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was an explosive second period for the Habs that saw Raphael Harvery-Pinard or ‘Hatty-Pinard’ score his first NHL hat trick and Nick Suzuki have his first four point game. It was a ‘feel good’ win for the Habs who have been playing some competitive hockey but not getting the bounces. The Habs did exactly what they were supposed to and took advantage of a tired Blue Jackets team that was on the second night of a back-to-back.

Last game: MTL 8  CBJ 2  F

For a complete game recap: ‘A Good Show’ | RECAP: CBJ @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Raphael Harvey-Pinard
    The rookie forward cannot stop scoring for the Habs. Many thought there was no way he could continue his scoring trend but he answered that with scoring his first hat trick. It’s a great story that should give him a ton of confidence this off-season that hopefully motivates him to elevate his game to another level next season.
  • Mike Matheson
    An injury plagued season that took awhile for Matheson to find his game is ending on great note as he two points away from a career high.
  • Sean Farrell
    When will Sean Farrell make his debut? Farrell recently finished his NCAA career and signed with the Habs and has joined them on the road trip. Farrell is a highly skilled play maker that had 53 points in 34 games for Harvard this season.

Keys to Victory

  • Be consistent
    The Habs have been playing some competitive hockey lately but seem to have a few games that are huge let downs. Being consistent on a nightly basis are what separate the bad, the good and the great teams. Right now the Habs aren’t being consistent enough and that is why they find themselves at the bottom of the standings.
  • Skate hard
    A big part of last game’s win was the Habs were skating and didn’t stop. When players are moving and use their skating to their strength it’s easy to take over games like last game. Habs need to continue to skate tonight.
  • Win special teams
    This isn’t the same Buffalo Sabres team from past years. The Sabres are now a high offensive team with skilled players at several positions and are very dangerous on the power play.
Statistical Matchup for Game 74
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY | March 27, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SNE, SNP, RDS, ESPN+, MSG-B

2022-23  statistics
SABRES CANADIENS
76 (20th) Points (rank) 64 (28th)
35-31-6 Record 29-38-6
W2 Streak W1
3-5-2 Last 10 3-5-2
3.57 (3rd) GF/G (rank) 2.84 (26th)
3.68 (29th) GA/G (rank) 3.67 (28th)
24.3 (6th) PP% (rank) 17.3 (28th)
72.4 (31st) PK% (rank) 73.1 (29th)
45.1  Faceoff % 48.6
Pre-game 
Sean Farrell

  • The newly-signed Farrell will have to wait to make his pro debut. He will not be in the lineup against the Sabres. The Canadiens announced that he has been assigned sweater number 57.
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Skinner – Thompson (GTD) – Tuch
Quinn – Cozens – Peterka
Mittelstadt – Jost – Olofsson
Girgensons – Krebs – Okposo		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Hoffman
Drouin – Dach – Gurianov
Ylonen – Evans – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Tierney – Belzile
Defensemen
Dahlin – Jokiharju
Power – Lyubushkin
Stillman – Bryson		 Matheson – Savard
Edmundson – Barron
Harris – Kovacevic
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Clague, Anderson, Levi, Hinostroza, Rousek
Injured: Samuelsson, Greenway		 Scratched: Wideman, Pitlick, Farrell
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Armia (illness), Dvorak (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body), Anderson (lower-body)
Goalies
Eric Comrie Jake Allen
Record: 9-9-0
GAA: 3.72
Sv%: .882
SO: 1
Alternate: Ukko-Pekka Luukonen		 Record: 14-24-3
GAA: 3.57
Sv%: .891
SO: 1
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Sabres are on the outside looking into the final wildcard spot and it’s not going to be easy for them. This is a game they need to win in order to secure that final spot and will be very motivated to do so. The Habs on the other hand need to just continue to play competitive hockey and not worry about the result of the game. Fans have been happy recently seeing a team staying in games and making it interesting until the final minutes.

Bottom Line

There should be plenty of Habs fans in attendance as Buffalo gets many Habs fans, the team needs to give them something to cheer about.
 Video Highlights

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