Canadiens at Sabres preview

CANADIENS (5-1-2) at SABRES (5-4-0)
7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV

Dahlin, selected by Buffalo with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, has three points (one goal, two assists) in nine games. Kotkaniemi, chosen No. 3 by Montreal in 2018, has three assists in eight games.
The Sabres will try to win three straight games for the first time since Jan. 22-25 and match their best 10-game start since 2011-12.
The Canadiens are 4-0-1 in their past five games. They extended their point streak with a 3-2 win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

Players to watch

Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin has seven points (three goals, four assists) during a five-game point streak.
Sabres forward Jeff Skinner had seven points (five goals, two assists) during Buffalo's five-game road trip, including points in each of the past three games.

They said it

"Of course it's fun when there's another guy from the same age group. There might be a little more competition, but I think it's just fun." -- Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi on playing against Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin
"I think just with the opponent coming into our building, a divisional game, a big rivalry, I think that's going to be motivation enough. Coming back off the road trip and also having four days before we play helps." -- Sabres coach Phil Housley

Canadiens projected lineup

Tomas Tatar -- Phillip Danault -- Brendan Gallagher
Jonathan Drouin -- Max Domi -- Artturi Lehkonen
Paul Byron -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Joel Armia
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Matthew Peca -- Andrew Shaw
Jordie Benn -- Jeff Petry
Mike Reilly -- Noah Juulsen
Victor Mete -- Xavier Ouellet
Antti Niemi
Carey Price
Scratched:Karl Alzner, Nikita Scherbak, Charles Hudon
Injured:Shea Weber (knee), David Schlemko (knee), Tomas Plekanec (back)

Sabres projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Jack Eichel -- Jason Pominville
Conor Sheary - Vladimir Sobotka -- Sam Reinhart
Evan Rodrigues -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Kyle Okposo
Patrik Berglund -- Johan Larsson -- Zemgus Girgensons
Jake McCabe -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin -- Casey Nelson
Marco Scandella -- Zach Bogosian
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
Scratched:Remi Elie, Tage Thompson, Nathan Beaulieu
Injured:Scott Wilson (ankle), Sean Malone (knee), Matt Hunwick (neck)

Status report

Niemi will make his third start of the season. … Domi will be in the lineup despite missing practice Wednesday.

Stat pack

Pominville needs two points to reach 497 with the Sabres, which will tie him with Thomas Vanek for 10th on their all-time list. … Sheary is three points from 100 in the NHL. … Petry has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past five games.