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

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres

How to watch

Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In Canada: Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Now, CityTV (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the Sabres region: MSG Buffalo
Elsewhere: NHL.tv / Rogers NHL Live

The Montreal Canadiens have been winning, the Columbus Blue Jackets losing, and the two combined are working very well in Montreal’s favour as the team has renewed hope of making the post-season.

A team approach has allowed the Canadiens to start enjoying some success again, with nearly every player contributing in some fashion in the latest win on Thursday. They even got a rare power-play goal, and if that can become a regular thing it could be a much easier path to securing a wild-card spot.

The Buffalo Sabres have played a role in making it such a tight race with just two weeks remaining. They’ve won the first three games of the season series, but the Habs have at least salvaged two points from overtime losses.

Buffalo isn’t stringing any wins together as the season winds down, but they are still capable of cutting down a team that goes into battle unprepared, underestimating just how much talent is on the roster. The St. Louis Blues found that out on Sunday, finding themselves down 3-1 midway through the second period and needing a comeback effort just to wrest a point from a team well below them in the standings.

Given how the series has played out so far, there should be no reason for Montreal to be caught off-guard.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Buffalo Sabres projected lineup