Canadiens Adjust Defense Before Sabres Matchup in Montreal

Montreal Canadiens face the Buffalo Sabres at Bell Centre in Montreal with a 6:30 PM EDT start, as both teams manage defensive injuries in their first meeting after last season’s playoff series. The matchup is part of the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy schedule featuring all 32 teams.

According to habseyesontheprize, Buffalo entered the game without Rasmus Dahlin after he suffered a lower-body issue the previous night and did not travel to Montreal. The Canadiens also announced Mike Matheson would miss the game because of an ailment.

The absences affect two heavily used defensemen, according to habseyesontheprize, leaving other blue-liners on both teams with increased responsibilities during the matchup. Montreal’s defensive group was also missing other injured players listed by the team.

According to habseyesontheprize, Jacob Fowler was scheduled to start in net for a third consecutive game behind a Canadiens defense without Matheson. Montreal had also recalled Owen Beck after his strong performance with the Laval Rocket on Sunday.

The Canadiens lineup included Beck for his first game of the season, while injured players listed by the team were Ivan Demidov, Mike Matheson, Samuel Montembeault and Florian Xhekaj, according to habseyesontheprize. Oliver Kapanen was listed as scratched.

Buffalo’s projected lineup featured Tage Thompson, Noah Ostlund and Ryan McLeod among its centers, while its defense pairs included Olen Zellweger with Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power with Zach Metsa, according to habseyesontheprize.

The game was scheduled to air on TSN2 in English and RDS in French for the Canadiens region, MSG Buffalo for the Sabres region, and stream through ESPN+, RDS and TSN+, according to habseyesontheprize.