The Montreal Canadiens are still in search of their first win under new coach Martin St. Louis as they host the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
The Canadiens are 0-2 under St. Louis, who replaced Dominique Ducharme on Wednesday. They came close to snaring a point on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but that was snatched away when Patrik Laine scored with seven seconds left in regulation.
“He’s come in here with a purpose and when a guy like that walks into the locker room, everybody stops what they’re doing and listens,” Tyler Toffoli said. “I think everyone’s bought in already and we’re just trying to get better.”
Montreal is 0-7-2 in its past nine games while getting outscored 47-20 during that stretch. Saturday’s 2-1 defeat marked the first time since Dec. 16 that they’ve allowed fewer than three goals.
“Winning is important, and I’m a guy who looks to win, but if I look at the way that we’re developing so far it’s very encouraging,” St. Louis said.
Long in need of goaltending help with Jake Allen injured and Carey Price still nowhere near ready to return, the Canadiens acquired veteran Andrew Hammond from the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. He’s expected to be available against the Sabres after Sam Montembeault made 40 saves on Saturday.
The Sabres arrive in Montreal looking to bounce back after letting a two-goal lead slip away on Thursday in an overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Buffalo has won both games against the Canadiens so far this season, outscoring them 9-2 in those contests and outshooting them 75-57. The two clubs haven’t met since late November, however.
And despite Montreal’s season-long tailspin, the Sabres know they can’t take them lightly.
“I think their belief system is a little stronger as a result (of the coaching change),” coach Don Granato said. “They played with more energy the other night from what I watched, a little more passion. That should make for a really fast-paced, competitive game (Sunday). So they are definitely in a better place than they were five days ago based on their game the other night. We know that and have to respect that.”
The Sabres have lost three in a row and are 4-9-4 in their past 17, alternating wins and losses in the middle of that stretch.
While the wins have been hard to come by, the top line of Tage Thompson between Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner has continued to produce of late. Thompson, who leads the team with 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists), has points in three straight and in six of his past seven games.
Tuch, meanwhile, has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) through his first 14 games with Buffalo.
Skinner is enjoying a bounce-back season and leads the team with 16 goals and has been generating opportunities even when the puck isn’t finding the net.
“The main thing I feel is just the support, the puck support,” Thompson said. “I feel like we’re always around each other. So, those like five-, 10-foot passes, those quick little touch passes, things like that. Just letting the puck do the work instead of trying to skate through the whole team. We use each other, and I think that’s when we’re most dangerous.”
–Field Level Media
