Canadiens vs. Sabres: Game preview, start time, Tale of the Tape, and how to watch

The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre on Saturday night, seeking their second victory over Buffalo this week. Montreal enters the matchup with a 3-3-1 record after a strong defensive showing against Washington, while the Sabres hold a 4-3-1 mark following a multi-goal third-period comeback win against Toronto. The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT and will be broadcast across several networks, including NHL Network, Sportsnet East, and TVA Sports.

Montreal writer Justin Blades highlights Montreal's recent defensive improvements, noting the team has limited opponents to 1.78 or fewer expected five-on-five goals across four straight games. The preview cautions that the Canadiens must stay disciplined with late leads, as Buffalo has outscored opponents 10-3 in third periods this season. The article also notes that Montreal continues to skate without Ivan Demidov while looking to increase their scoring output.