The Buffalo Sabres (20-43-8) officially set a franchise record for the most regulation losses in an 82-game season on Sunday night with a loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
On Tuesday night, the Sabres will play the fourth game of their five-game road trip in Montreal as they take on the Canadiens (40-26-7) at the Bell Centre.
Buffalo got out to a quick 2-0 lead against the Canucks on Sunday with goals from Tyler Ennis and Jamie McBain. The lead did not last long as Vancouver came back to score four unanswered goals to hand the Sabres a 4-2 loss.
“We were two steps behind and they capitalized on them,” Sabres interim coach Ted Nolan said. “In this league you can’t play good sometimes. You’ve gotta play good all the time. That’s a lesson to learn and something we have to do to move forward.”
With Ennis’ goal on Sunday, Ennis has six points in the last eight games played. Ennis is now one goal away from scoring his second career 20-goal season. Ennis needs two points to surpass 40-points on the year for the second time in his four year career.
Nathan Lieuwen got his second career start in Vancouver making 32 saves on 36 shots faced. In three games played with the Sabres, Lieuwen has posted a 3.00 GAA and a .903 save-%.
The Sabres get a bit of good news for Tuesday’s game. Tyler Myers has made the trip to Montreal and is expected to return from his elbow injury. With Myers returning from his injury, Rasmus Ristolainen will return to the Rochester Americans in the AHL.
For Montreal, they are coming off of a 2-1 shootout win over the Boston Bruins. Boston was riding a 12-game winning streak trying to go for number 13. In the shootout, Alex Galchenyuk scored the game-winning goal to help lift the Canadiens to victory. Montreal is currently second in the Atlantic Division, winning five of their last six games.
Michal Neuvirth is expected not to dress again in Montreal for the Sabres with his nagging lower-body injury. Jhonas Enroth, Alex Sulzer, and Zemgus Girgensons are all still in Buffalo waiting for the team to return home.
For Montreal, Lars Eller missed Monday’s game against Boston with a sprained knee. Eller is expected to miss Tuesday’s game against the Sabres. Brandon Prust is out for the rest of the regular season with an upper-body injury. Josh Gorges is expected to be out until early April after undergoing surgery on his left hand.
Matt Hackett will get his second start with the Sabres, while Carey Price is expected to get the start for the Montreal Canadiens.
Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on MSG Network and WGR 550 AM.