MTL@BUF: Kotkaniemi ready to compete against Dahlin

BUFFALO - The Canadiens held a morning skate on Thursday at the KeyBank Center, and they recognized they'd have to put the work in if they wanted to beat a much-improved Buffalo Sabres team in the evening.

"I have a lot of respect for what Buffalo has done since the start of the season. There's a big difference in their team from last year. They have a good structure. Offensively, they have a lot of depth with additions like Jeff Skinner and Conor Sheary, among others. They improved that way," explained head coach Claude Julien following practice. "I also have a lot of respect for their defensive game. They protect the middle of the ice well. They've improved a lot, and it won't be easy to beat them."
There are three former members of the Sabres organization on the Habs roster - Joel Armia, Paul Byron, and Nicolas Deslauriers - and Deslauriers agrees that things are quite a bit different from the time he was in Upstate New York.
"The Sabres have changed everything, from upper management to the team culture," said Deslauriers, who played 211 games for Buffalo from 2013-2017, collecting 30 points and 186 penalty minutes. "You see they've had a good start to the season. You can see that getting the first [overall] choice, that helps too."

That first overall pick Deslauriers is referring to is none other than Rasmus Dahlin, selected two picks before Jesperi Kotkaniemi at the 2018 Draft in Dallas, and the Finnish centerman agrees that he'll feel some extra motivation when he takes to the ice on Thursday against his Swedish rival.
"I played once against him three years ago in Under-16 for the national team," recalled Kotkaniemi, who has three assists in eight games this season. "It's a pretty long time ago, but he's a great player. It'll be fun to meet him again.
"Of course it's fun, there's another guy from the same age group. There might be a little bit more competition. It's just fun."

Julien announced that he would make no lineup changes among his skaters from Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames, although he had said before the team left for Buffalo that it would be Antti Niemi between the pipes against Dahlin and Co.

On Thursday, Julien reiterated how well appreciated Niemi is by the coaching staff and his teammates alike.
"Every time we have him in nets, our guys feel confident in front of him. They just love his battle and his commitment, and love the fact that he's first on the ice and last off," praised Julien, who said Niemi often offers to stay on the ice so his fellow Habs can continue shooting on him. "He's a really, really good teammate. He's the perfect kind of backup we need."

Niemi isn't any old backup - he's a former Stanley Cup winner who finished last season with a 2.46 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in 19 games with the Canadiens, and he'll be heavily relied upon as the Habs aim to make room for themselves in the standings against a divisional rival.
"It's two games in our division. Those are important points to win, and also to not lose. This trip is an important one," concluded Julien. "I hope we have a good start with a win here tonight."