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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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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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 30: Down The Stretch – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as they discuss the NHL General Managers Meetings, Connor Bedard's antics, Mikko Rantanen returning to Colorado, Gabriel Landeskog resumes skating with the team, Ovechkin's Gr8 Chase, and NHL Playoff updates.

1. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
2. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
3. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07
4. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins 01:07:33
5. ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting 42:17