NHL Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens with Line Combinations 3/3/2025

Buffalo Sabres (24-29-5, 53 Pts) at Montreal Canadiens (29-26-5, 63 Pts)

Venue: Bell Centre
Date: Monday, March 3
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/MSG-B/RDS/TSN2
Radio:
Montreal – TSN 690
Buffalo – WGR 550 Sports Radio

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Montreal Canadiens +1.5 ML -112
Buffalo Sabres -1.5 ML -109
O/U 5.5

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Buffalo Sabres News & Notes:

The Sabres lost 4-2 on Saturday to Montreal. They got goals from Jiri Kulich and Alex Tuch. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced.

Montreal Canadiens News & Notes:

The Canadiens with Saturdays 4-2 win picked up their fourth straight win. They got goals from Alex Newhook, Jake Evans, Josh Anderson, and Cole Caufield. Jakub Dobes stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced.

Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines

Peterka-McLeod-Thompson
Greenway-Cozens-Tuch
Benson-Kulich-Quinn
Malenstyn-Krebs-Gilbert

Dahlin-Byram
Power-Samuelsson
Bryson-Clifton

Luukkonen
Reimer

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Buffalo Hockey – Inside The Rink

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lines:

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Beck-Laine
Gallagher-Dvorak-Anderson
Heineman-Evans-Armia

Hutson-Struble
Matheson-Carrier
Xhekaj-Savard

Montembeault
Dobes

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Montreal Hockey – Inside The Rink

Players To Watch:

Buffalo Sabres

Dylan Cozens this season has 30 points on 11 goals and 19 assists. He’s faced the Canadiens 14 times in his career recording eight points on three goals and five assists; in the three meetings this season he has two goals and an assist.

Montreal Canadiens

Nick Suzuki this season has 61 points on 18 goals and 43 assists. He’s faced the Sabres 16 times in his career recording 14 points on five goals and nine assists; in theee meetings this season he has seven points on two goals and five assists.

Injury Report:

Buffalo Sabres

F Jason Zucker – DTD

Montreal Canadiens

C Kirby Dach – DTD
D Kaiden Guhle – Out
LW Michael Pezzetta – DTD
D David Reinbacher – LTIR

Next Game

Buffalo – March 4 vs. San Jose Sharks
Montreal – March 6 @ Edmonton Oilers

ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again – Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they break down the Florida Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, Trevor Zegras traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, the AHL Calder Cup winning Abbotsford Canucks, and the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft!

1. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again 56:17
2. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10
3. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat? 29:05
4. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch 46:47
5. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat? 32:22