Montreal @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 23, 2019 ) Buffalo 4, Montreal 7

Denied in their bid for their first 3-0-0 start in 11 years, the Buffalo Sabres still have yet to lose in regulation as they hit a favorable portion of the schedule. Coming off their first loss in overtime at Columbus, the Sabres will square off against their first Atlantic Division rival when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

Buffalo surrendered 44 shots at Columbus on Monday night but was able to salvage a point when Victor Olofsson scored the tying goal with 74 seconds left in regulation. "Those setbacks are really, really good, especially when you take a point out of them," coach Ralph Krueger said. "That's the way we're managing it today. ... We're just going to continue to drive towards the well." The Canadiens have gone to a shootout in each of their first two games, but showed plenty of mettle by scoring four third-period goals in Saturday's 6-5 win over Toronto. "It wasn't a great start for us," defenseman Shea Weber said. "We got a little bit better and we didn't panic. We hit the reset button."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, RDS (Montreal), MSG-Buffalo

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (1-0-1): Carey Price played in 66 games last season and Montreal, determined to lessen his workload, acquired a solid backup in Keith Kinkaid, who will make his Canadiens debut this week and could get the call Wednesday given his 3-0-1 record against the Sabres. "Carey is not going to play three games in four nights," coach Claude Julien said of Price, who is expected to start Thursday's home opener. "We did not buy a goalkeeper to leave him at the end of the bench." Weber did not practice Tuesday but is expected to play.

ABOUT THE SABRES (2-0-1): Conor Sheary, who scored a pair of goals in the season-opening win at Pittsburgh and collected an assist Monday, is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will be replaced on the third line by Evan Rodrigues. "He's stayed active, he's been working hard, and his opportunity now comes tomorrow," Krueger said. "He's excited to get back in the lineup. He's been nothing but supportive to his teammates and to the process." Jeff Skinner has scored in back-to-back games while new linemate Marcus Johansson tallied Monday.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo won three of four meetings last season after Montreal swept the season series in 2017-18.

2. Canadiens F Max Domi lit up Buffalo for three goals and eight points in four games last season.

3. Sabres captain Jack Eichel had one goal and six points versus the Canadiens in 2018-19.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Canadiens 2