Canadiens at Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres attempt to extend their longest winning streak in more than 10 years when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Buffalo is on a seven-game run, its longest since opening the 2006-07 season with 10 straight victories, that began with an overtime triumph in Montreal on Nov. 8.
The Sabres' latest win came Wednesday, when they scored four goals in the first period en route to a 5-2 home victory over Philadelphia. Evan Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart each recorded a tally and an assist for Buffalo, which is off to its best 10-game start at home since posting an identical 7-2-1 mark in 2009-10. Montreal is coming off its second straight loss, a 5-2 setback in New Jersey on Wednesday. Max Domi continued his torrid pace in the defeat, scoring his team-leading 11th goal to give him six tallies and nine assists during his 11-game point streak.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), MSG (Buffalo)
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (11-7-4): Andrew Shaw has been hot of late, registering five goals and four assists over his last seven games. The 27-year-old right wing is closing in on several milestones as he needs two tallies and one assist to reach the century mark in both categories and is three points away from 200 for his career. Domi has been kept off the scoresheet once in his last 17 games and only three times in 22 contests this season.
ABOUT THE SABRES (14-6-2): Jeff Skinner scored his team-leading 15th goal Wednesday, 14 of which have come in his last 15 contests. The 26-year-old former Calder Trophy winner is five away from reaching the 20-goal plateau for the fourth consecutive campaign and seventh time during his nine-season career. Reinhart has collected 10 points over his last nine games, registering four two-point performances in that span.
OVERTIME
1. The Canadiens recalled D Brett Kulak from Laval of the American Hockey League on Thursday.
2. Buffalo D Marco Scandella (lower body) is expected to miss his second straight contest despite participating in Thursday's optional practice.
3. Montreal C Jonathan Drouin's next game will be his 100th with the club since being acquired from Tampa Bay.