3 Keys: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres have been scoring goals in the early season, and are 2-0-1 with five points in three games. In those three games, the Sabres have scored 13 goals, and seven of them came in one game against the New Jersey Devils. The Sabres are getting contributions from up and down the lineup in the early going. They are playing with speed and pace to their game, and the goaltending has been decent, when needed. 

The Montreal Canadiens are 1-0-1 in its first two games this season. They have scored some goals, but the difference is that they are also allowing goals against. The goaltending will have to be better for the Canadiens throughout the year, and Carey Price should get his game together. The Canadiens did beat the Maple Leafs in its second game of the season by a score of 6-5 so they do have some momentum to build off of for the next few games.

Here are three keys for the game against the Canadiens on Oct. 9, 2019:

1) Get First Goal- Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens are a better team when they play with the lead versus playing from behind. The Canadiens are off to a 1-0-1 start with the one win coming when the team scored the first goal. If the Canadiens can get on the scoreboard first, then they have a good chance of taking the home crowd out of the game early. By scoring the first goal, the Habs should be able to establish some momentum to carry throughout the game. 

The Canadiens are 1-0-0 when scoring the first goal of the game while being 0-0-1 when the opposition scores the first goal of the game. The Sabres are 2-0-0 when scoring the first goal of the game, so the Canadiens want to get that first goal to try to slow the Sabres down. The Canadiens only have one first period goal and that won’t get the job done against the Sabres. The team needs to come out fast and set the pace early to get that all-important first goal.

2) Depth Scoring- Sabres

The Canadiens have only played two games, but they have gotten production from the entire lineup. The Sabres can’t rely on the top line again this season because while they got off to a good start last season, they faltered with no depth scoring. The top line is putting up some decent numbers to start the season, but the difference this season is that the other three lines are also contributing when on the ice. If the top line is shut down during a game, then the depth scorers will need to step up since the Canadiens have four lines that can produce.

There will be some depth scorers on the blue line this season for the Sabres. Some of the defensemen can skate and they can all move the puck pretty well. When Rasmus Dahlin is on the ice, the Canadiens need to know where he is at all times. Dahlin can act as a fourth forward when he is on the ice and will get his scoring chances in the offensive zone. Rasmus Ristolainen is another player who can put up some points from the backend for this Sabres team. 

3.) Jesperi Kotkaniemi vs. Victor Oloffson 

Jesperi Kotkaniemi came on to the NHL scene last season and put up 11 goals, 23 assists, and 34 points in 79 games. This season in two games, he has one goal and no assists, but this kid can play. Kotkaniemi displayed some of his great vision last season, and that is something the Sabres will need to be aware of in his game. He is also reliable in the defensive end, but watch out for his playmaking ability in this game. The center is on a line with Jonathan Drouin and the two of them bring speed and creativity, which could be a major headache for the Sabres and the other teams in the NHL this season. 

Victor Olofsson came into camp and made so much of an impression on management and the coaches that he won a roster spot. Olofsson has been playing with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart to start the season, and the chemistry has been instant. Olofsson has a decent shot and he isn’t afraid to use it, which makes him a good fit on the top line. He may not be the biggest or fastest guy on the ice, but he can produce some points. The winger can find the open ice so the Canadiens will need to keep an eye on him.