Canadiens vs. Sabres: Game thread, rosters, lines and how to watch

With the season winding down, and both a playoff position and Atlantic Division title clinched, the Habs are in Buffalo to hopefully keep rolling at the rate they have been over the past fifteen games.

The team’s record since Claude Julien took over, 15-5-1, is as good as a turnaround anyone could have expected when he took over a team that was 18-18-7 after opening their season 13-1-1. With three games left to play, the Habs are gearing up for a first round matchup with the New York Rangers that will likely begin a week from today.

How do you stay focused in the meantime on the game at hand? While talk about who to rest and who not to rest starts to heat up among Habs’ fans, the Canadiens are not approaching this week as if they’ve already won it all, and will be icing a pretty complete lineup tonight with Carey Price starting in net.

The only changes made to the lineup will be on the fourth line with Brian Flynn and Torrey Mitchell back in to replace Michael McCarron and Steve Ott. This is Brian Flynn’s first game since March 7 in Vancouver when he sustained an upper body injury.

The Sabres are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs at home on Monday night in which they surrendered three goals of 43 seconds between the 4:26 and 5:09 mark of the first period.

Puck Drop is 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST

How to watch:

Canada (English): Rogers Sportsnet
Canada (French): RDS

In the U.S: MSG-B

Elsewhere: NHL.tv/NHL Gamecentre Live, NHL Centre Ice

Inured: Al Montoya (lower body), Shea Weber (lower body), Jordie Benn (lower body)

Buffalo Sabres Projected Lineup

Injured: Kyle Okposo (illness), Taylor Fedun (foot), Johan Larsson (dislocated wrist)