The Montreal Canadiens are feeling good since returning to action following the NHL’s pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off and will aim to keep it going when they host the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
The Canadiens picked up a season-high fourth straight win on Saturday, downing the Sabres 4-2 in Buffalo in the opener of a home-and-home set. The win put Montreal within three points of the second wild card from the Eastern Conference entering Sunday’s action.
“We knew we had to come out of the break and get a bunch of wins,” captain Nick Suzuki said. “Boys are really bought in right now and it’s showing, and that’s a big reason we’re getting success.”
On March 1 of last season, the Canadiens were 15 points back of a playoff spot and the season prior they were 13 points out.
“It’s important to focus your energy on things you can control and, right now, what we can control is the way we play each game,” defenseman Mike Matheson said. “To know that this (game against the Sabres) wasn’t perfect but we found a way to win, we have to do that again.”
They’ve had success at both ends of the ice during their current stretch, outscoring the opposition 17-7, with at least four goals in each game and only once allowing more than two goals.
The power play has helped fuel the offensive success, going 4-for-13 over the course of the win streak, a success rate of 30.8 percent. At the other end, they’re 7-for-8 on the penalty kill, and have denied the opposition’s power play on each of the past five opportunities.
The top line of Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky has also helped pace the club, combining for 17 points over the past four games. Suzuki has been the driver of that offense, accounting for nine of those points (three goals, six assists).
The Sabres, meanwhile, have dropped two straight after winning six of their previous seven games. They’ll be looking to tighten up defensively and manage the puck and the game better than they did Saturday.
“I think what hurt us, again, was some of our puck play, and a couple of those decisions cost us dearly on the goals,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “We know we’ve got to clean that up. We’ve got to do a better job getting more pucks (on net). I think we were OK with it, but the third period, probably seven or eight times we passed up opportunities.”
Buffalo is 0-3 against Montreal, with Monday’s tilt being the last between the division foes this season. The Canadiens have outscored the Sabres 17-8 in the three meetings.
“You’ve got to key in on their top guys,” defenseman Jacob Bryson said. “I feel like that Suzuki line has been the driver for their offense every time we play them, so when they’re on the ice, be aware. And, obviously, (Patrik) Laine can score, too. So as long as we limit, I feel, our penalties, and keep them off the power play, I think we’ll be pretty successful.”
Forward Alex Tuch has scored in three straight games and enters the contest with 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past eight games.
–Field Level Media
