Canadiens at Sabres preview

CANADIENS (11-7-4) at SABRES (14-6-2)
4 p.m. ET; MSG-B, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV

A win would give the Sabres their longest winning streak since they tied a Buffalo record by winning 10 straight from Oct. 4-26, 2006 to open the 2006-07 season. A win or loss in overtime or a shootout would give Buffalo its longest point streak since March 10-27, 2012, when it had at least a point in nine straight (7-0-2).
Sabres goalie Carter Hutton will look to win his seventh straight start for the Sabres; he's 6-0-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in his past six games (five starts).
The Canadiens, looking to avoid their third consecutive loss (0-1-1), are 3-3-1 in their past seven games and have allowed at least four goals in nine of their past 12 games.

Players to watch

Canadiens forward Max Domi has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in an 11-game point streak, and is the first player with a point streak of at least 10 games in his first season with Montreal since Pierre Turgeon had a 13-game point streak (20 points; 11 goals, nine assists) from April 5-29, 1995.
Sabres forward Jeff Skinner has 21 points (14 goals, seven assists) in his past 16 games.
They said it
"We were playing really effective at the start [of the season], and we need to get back on it. It's hard to play like that 82 games, but we have a lot of speed on this team and we need to get back on the horse." -- Canadiens forward Tomas Tatar
"I think it's a testament to the guys putting in the work every day, coming here and just trying to get better. With that being said, it's November. There's so much of our season left. … We have a really good team coming in on Friday, a team that's played us tight the last few times. A big test for us." -- Sabres center Jack Eichel

Canadiens projected lineup

Tomas Tatar -- Phillip Danault -- Brendan Gallagher
Jonathan Drouin -- Max Domi -- Andrew Shaw
Matthew Peca -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Artturi Lehkonen
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Michael Chaput -- Kenny Agostino
Jordie Benn -- Jeff Petry
David Schlemko -- Brett Kulak
Karl Alzner -- Victor Mete
Antti Niemi
Carey Price
Scratched:Charles Hudon, Mike Reilly, Xavier Ouellet
Injured:Shea Weber (knee), Joel Armia (lower body), Paul Byron (lower body), Nikita Scherbak (lower body), Noah Juulsen (facial fracture)

Sabres projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Jack Eichel -- Jason Pominville
Tage Thompson -- Vladimir Sobotka -- Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Kyle Okposo
Zemgus Girgensons -- Johan Larsson -- Evan Rodrigues
Jake McCabe -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin -- Zach Bogosian
Nathan Beaulieu -- Casey Nelson
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
Scratched:Remi Elie, Lawrence Pilut
Injured: Marco Scandella (lower body), Patrik Berglund (upper body), Scott Wilson (ankle), Matt Hunwick (neck)

Status report

Hudon and Peca alternated on Kotkaniemi's wing in practice. … The Canadiens recalled Kulak from Laval of the American Hockey League on Thursday. … Scandella skated at Buffalo's optional practice Thursday but will be a game-time decision.

Stat pack

Shaw is one assist and two goals away from 100 of each in the NHL. … Hutton has a 1.64 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in six games against Montreal.