Game #9 Preview & Open Thread: Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens

It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again With Buffalo Back at Bell Centre Buffalo Sabres (4-3-1) vs Montreal Canadiens (3-3-1) Puck Drop: 7:00 pm ET | Bell Centre – Montreal, Quebec TV: MSG-B, DAZN, ESPN+ (Hulu), NHL Center Ice, Prime Video Radio: WGR 550, Sirius XM (app) Know Your Opponent Montreal Canadiens Record : 3-3-1 | 7 PTS Last Game : Lost 5-4 to the Capitals Division Ranking : 7th PP : 13.6% 27th (Sabres 11.1% 30th) PK : 80.0% 17th, 77.8% (Sabres 60.9% 30th) Season Series: The Sabres are 0-0-1 against the Habs *knock knock* “Who’s there?” “It’s Déjà Vu” “Déjà Vu who?” *knock knock* What to Watch 1.

Do Not Adjust Your TV Sets The Sabres once again return to the friendly confinds of Bell Centre in Montreal tonight with just four days and one game in Toronto between visits. Unusual scheduling to be sure. This second go-around will finish off the Maple Leaf sandwich with another slice of Montreal French bread.

Last time out, Buffalo stormed back to steal a point in the standings before imploding in the shootout. The Sabres will need a better, more consistent effort in tonight’s matchup with the Habs to come out a winner. No more two-shot periods allowed!

The bad news for Buffalo is that Rasmus Dahlin has been ruled out again for today’s game against the Canadiens, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic reports. Head coach Lindy Ruff said Thursday that Dahlin was 50/50 to play Saturday, but the 26-year-old won’t travel with the team to Montreal after all.

However, Ruff said Friday that Dahlin is progressing, so it seems possible that he’ll be a candidate to return Wednesday against the Flyers. He remains listed as day-to-day for now. 2.

Four Jacks Jack Quinn tied his career-best performance as a pro in Buffalo’s thrilling 5-4 overtime win over Toronto on Thursday night. The talented winger recorded two goals and two assists for a satisfying four-point night. He also showed some toughness after being confronted by Toronto’s Troy Stecher, handling himself well in a brief fight.

To cap off the evening, Quinn set up Owen Power for the overtime winner. What a hand he played for the comeback victory. Quinn has looked noticeably more confident and effective on the ice this season, as things finally appear to be coming together for the fifth-year Sabre.

He is tied for the team lead in both goals and points while averaging 19:20 of ice time per game. Lindy Ruff has repeatedly praised Quinn’s improved speed, growing confidence, and playmaking ability as he enters a crucial contract year. Along with Noah Östlund and Zach Benson, Quinn has helped form what has arguably been Buffalo’s best forward line this season.

Jack has been a major factor so far this year for Buffalo and Thursday’s performance was another encouraging sign of his development. The Sabres will need him to keep this momentum going if the team hopes to build on its recent success. If Quinn continues to play with this level of confidence and consistency, he could be in for a breakout season at just the right time.

Photo Credit: Buffalo Sabres 3. Concussion Grenade Off to a slow start with just two points in eight games, Josh Norris now finds himself in concussion protocol. At this point, it almost feels like the Sabres’ injury report isn’t complete without him.

Norris collided awkwardly with Oliver Ekman-Larsson during overtime in Toronto and did not return to finish the game. He’s listed as day-to-day and will likely miss at least a game or two. UPDATE Norris surprisingly practiced on Friday but the return-to-play process typically spans a minimum of 5 to 6 days (though actual return depends on symptom resolution).

Tyson Kozak can’t step into Norris’s spot as he has been sent home, but Jiri Kulich is the likely option if he’s feeling better. Kulich was recently sent back to Buffalo himself to be evaluated over concerns related to the blood clot he suffered last season. Fortunately, he checked out fine.

Jiri has since returned to the team and is listed as a possibility to play tonight. It’s been a disappointing start to the season for Norris. He opened the year playing top-line minutes but struggled to generate much offense.

More recently, he’s been shuffled around the lineup and has seen mostly bottom-six duty. Now he’s dealing with another injury, although this one hopefully won’t keep him out for long. The Sabres are starting to get a little thin at forward.

With Norris, though, you can never be too comfortable. He could get injured opening his mail. SECOND UPDATE Norris practiced again this morning and is now a possibility to play tonight.

I have to wonder how that’s possible, given the NHL’s mandates with concussions. Either his new evaluation determined he wasn’t actually suffering from a concussion, or something has changed rather quickly. Projected Lineups Buffalo Sabres Forwards Ryan McLeod – Tage Thompson – Josh Doan Zach Benson – Noah Östlund – Jack Quinn Peyton Krebs – Jiri Kulich/Josh Norris?

– Konsta Helenius Justin Danforth – Sam Carrick – Beck Malenstyn Defense Mattias Samuelsson – Olen Zellweger Owen Power – Zach Metsa Dennis Gilbert – Louis Crevier Goaltenders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (likely to start) Colten Ellis Montreal Canadiens Forwards Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky Chris Kreider – Alex Newhook – Josh Anderson Zachary Bolduc – Phillip Danault – Alexandre Texier Owen Beck – Jake Evans – Kirby Dach Defense Lane Hutson – Noah Dobson Kaiden Guhle – Alexandre Carrier Arber Xhekaj – David Reinbacher Goaltenders Jacob Fowler (likely to start) Jakub Dobeš