Need to Know: Bruins at Sabres

BUFFALO -The Bruins will be looking to have some sucess on the road on Saturday night as they take on the Buffalo Sabres at the Keybank Center. Coach Jim Montgomery took the time to express just how impressed he has been with this B's team so far this season as they enter their tilt against the Sabres at 12-2-0.
"The reason why we have that record is because of how hard they play for each other in that room," said Montgomery. "I think we are really good...I didn't know we were this good."

A Weekend Split

• "We will have one in the net," Montgomery said when asked about who will be between the pipes tonight. "I don't know if Goalie [coach] Bob [Essensa] ended up deciding...we were leaning towards Kinkaid, but I don't know if there was a definite answer."
• Montgomery did confirm that, regardless, Keith Kinkaid and Linus Ullmark will be splitting the weekend games, noting he does not want Ullmark overworked. "We don't want to over extend Linus by playing in both games, defiantly going to be a split."
• Kinkaid has looked good in Providence with a 2-1-1 record and 2.70 goals against average in his four games played.

Charlie Mac Takes on the Back to Back

• Charlie McAvoy is back in action and will remain in the lineup on Saturday night. This will be McAvoy's first game on the road after having made his return on Thursday night at TD Garden."He played well and he feels really good so thats why he's on the trip," said Montgomery. "We expect him to play tonight and tomorrow night."

The Sabres Scene

• "It's a real dangerous team, really talented," said Montgomery when asked about the Sabres. "Their ability to make plays in all three zones is very apparent and that's why they are a really good offensive team."
• The Sabres are currently on a four-game losing streak, having fallen, 7-4, to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. Buffalo will be without winger Kyle Okposo who is out with general soreness. Craig Anderson will start in net for the Sabres who last played on November 4 where he recorded a 5-3 loss vs. the Hurricanes.
• Tage Thompson is a player to watch, as he ranks third in the NHL with nine goals and is currently on a three-game point streak.

Video: Montgomery updates the media before BOS @ BUF

Saturday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand
-
Patrice Bergeron
-
Jake DeBrusk
Taylor Hall
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David Krejci
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David Pastrnak
Trent Frederic - Charlie Coyle - Pavel Zacha
Nick Foligno - Tomas Nosek - Craig Smith

DEFENSEMEN
Hampus Lindholm
- Connor Clifton
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Jakub Zboril - Brandon Carlo
GOALIES
Linus Ullmark
Keith Kinkaid