Sabres, Canadiens Set for Crucial Atlantic Clash as Buffalo Eyes Franchise Milestone
It’s late January, and the playoff race in the Atlantic Division is heating up. Tonight at KeyBank Center, the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens-two teams deadlocked at 67 points-go head-to-head in what feels like more than just a midseason matchup. With both clubs sitting in third and fourth place respectively, the stakes are high, and the numbers tell us this one could be a battle of momentum versus resilience.
Sabres on a Tear
Let’s start with the obvious: Buffalo is rolling. Winners of five straight, the Sabres have picked up points in 21 of their last 24 games (20-3-1), the best mark in the NHL over that stretch.
That run includes a league-leading 20 wins and 41 points since December 9. A win tonight would give them 21 wins in a 25-game span-something this franchise has never done before.
Yeah, history’s on the line.
And it’s not just about piling up points. Defensively, they’ve been locked in, allowing just 2.38 goals per game over that same stretch-second-best in the league. That level of defensive consistency has been a major factor in their surge, and it’s giving their offense the freedom to thrive.
Alex Lyon: Making History in the Crease
Alex Lyon has been the backbone of this run. With 10 straight wins, he’s now the owner of the longest winning streak by a goaltender in Sabres history, breaking a record that stood for nearly 50 years.
His 2.62 goals-against average and .914 save percentage speak for themselves, but it’s the confidence he’s brought to the crease that’s been just as impactful. When your netminder is this locked in, everything else flows.
Montreal’s Firepower Can’t Be Overlooked
Don’t sleep on the Canadiens. They’ve got their own elite talent, especially up front.
Nick Suzuki is pacing the team with 62 points in 54 games, and rookie blueliner Lane Hutson has been a revelation with 46 assists-tied for the team lead in helpers. Cole Caufield, meanwhile, continues to be a sniper with 30 goals already.
Montreal’s power play has been lethal at times, converting at a 23.6% clip, but their penalty kill has struggled, ranking 27th in the league. That’s an area Buffalo could exploit, especially with the way their top lines have been humming.
Sabres’ Stars Heating Up
Tage Thompson is doing exactly what Buffalo needs from its top center-producing consistently. He’s racked up 34 points in his last 28 games, including 10 goals and 14 assists in just the last 18.
Alex Tuch is on a heater too, with goals in three straight games and five total in that span. One more tonight would tie the longest goal streak of his career.
On the blue line, Rasmus Dahlin continues to show why he’s in the Norris Trophy conversation. He’s got 14 points in his last 10 games and is riding a three-game point streak.
He’s also just two assists shy of moving into seventh place on the Sabres’ all-time assist list. That’s rare air for a defenseman still in his prime.
Mattias Samuelsson is quietly making noise too. He’s on a career-best five-game point streak and could become just the second Sabres defenseman this season (alongside Dahlin) to hit six games with a point if he gets on the scoresheet tonight.
Depth Stepping Up
Buffalo’s success hasn’t just been about the stars. Jack Quinn has 12 points in his last 11 games and is on a four-game point streak.
Ryan McLeod has quietly put up 15 points in his last 13 and is chasing personal milestones with both his assist and point streaks. Peyton Krebs has chipped in five points in his last five games, and Bowen Byram is set to skate in his 300th NHL game tonight.
Injury Report
The Sabres are still battling through some injuries. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is day-to-day with a lower-body issue, while key names like Jiri Kulich and Conor Timmins remain on injured reserve. But the depth has held strong, and the lineup-led by the top line of Josh Doan, Thompson, and Tuch-continues to produce.
What’s at Stake
A win tonight wouldn’t just extend Buffalo’s win streak to six-it would also mark the first time since the 2005-06 season that the Sabres have had multiple streaks of six or more wins in a single season. That was a special year in Buffalo, and this team is starting to show shades of that kind of chemistry.
With both teams sitting at 67 points, this game could have serious playoff implications down the line. For Buffalo, it’s a chance to keep rewriting the record books. For Montreal, it’s a chance to stop one of the league’s hottest teams in their tracks.
Puck drops tonight at 7:00pm in Buffalo. Given the way these two teams are playing-and what’s on the line-you won’t want to miss it.