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Canadiens take on rival Sabres at Bell Centre

Mar 22, 2011 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - An important Eastern Conference clash is on tap tonight in Montreal, as the Canadiens welcome the rival Buffalo Sabres for a Northeast Division matchup at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens have 87 points on the year and are just one behind Boston for the division lead. The Bruins, who are hosting New Jersey tonight, have two games in hand over the Habs.

Montreal is currently the sixth seed in the conference and are eight points ahead of tonight's opponent in the East standings. However, the Sabres, who are three points ahead of Carolina for the eighth and final playoff seed, would be in the postseason if the regular season ended today.

The Canadiens have taken three of five from Buffalo this season, but the Sabres have won the last two encounters, including a 3-2 shootout win in the most recent meeting between the clubs on Feb. 15 in Montreal.

Buffalo has won six of 10 overall in the series and four out of six at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens will try to keep their offense on the right track tonight after turning in Sunday's 8-1 thrashing of the Wild in Minnesota. P.K. Subban tallied the first hat trick of his career and added an assist in the blowout win at Xcel Energy Center.

Subban became the first rookie defenseman in Canadiens history to record a hat trick.

Ryan White had a goal and two assists while James Wisniewski added a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who won for the eighth time in their past 11 games.

Benoit Pouliot added three assists while Alex Auld stopped 30 shots. Carey Price is expected to start in net tonight and is sporting a 3-0-2 record and a 1.57 goals-against average in five games against the Sabres this season.

Montreal has played the last three games without forwards Jeff Halpern (lower body) and Tomas Plekanec (lower body). The duo is questionable for tonight's game, as is defenseman Brent Sopel, who has sat out the last six tests with an injured left hand.

The Canadiens have a solid 22-9-6 record as the host this year and have won three of their last four in Quebec.

Buffalo will try to bounce back from a frustrating overtime loss when it takes the ice tonight. The Sabres dropped a 4-3 OT decision against visiting Nashville on Sunday despite holding a two-goal lead with less than three minutes left in the third period.

Nashville's Blake Geoffrion scored twice in 64 seconds near the end of regulation to complete his hat trick and pull Nashville even. Martin Erat then scored 27 seconds into overtime to give the Predators a well-earned two points.

"When you're up by two with a couple of minutes left and you give up a point it really hurts," said Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff.

Tim Connolly, Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Ennis scored for the Sabres, who have dropped two of their last three games. Ryan Miller was tagged for all four goals on 26 shots.

Miller, who will likely get the start tonight, is 1-2-0 with a 1.99 GAA in three games against the Habs this year.

The Sabres are expected to be without forward Jochen Hecht for a fourth straight game tonight. Hecht, who has 12 goals and 28 points this season, is dealing with an upper body injury. Buffalo defenseman Steve Montador is questionable with a lower body injury after sitting out Sunday's test.

Buffalo is 19-12-5 as the visiting team this season, but has dropped two of its last three away from western New York.