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Canadiens closing in on division title

Mar 28, 2008 - 1:21 PM Montreal (43-24-10) at Buffalo (36-30-11) 7:30 pm EDT

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) - The Montreal Canadiens look to move closer to their first division title in 15 years on Friday when they host the Buffalo Sabres.

Montreal, which leads Ottawa (42-28-8) by five points in the Northeast Division, are looking to match a season-high four game winning streak.

With just five games left in the regular season, the Canadiens are closing in on their first division title since winning the Adams Division in the 1991-92 season.

On Monday, Montreal clinched a playoff spot for the first time in three years with a 7-5 win over the Senators. Andrei Kostitsyn scored two of Montreal's three first-period goals.

"It's definitely really nice, the guys are really excited," Canadiens left wing Christopher Higgins said. "We can't wait for it (the playoffs) to start; it's going to be a real fun time of year."

The Canadiens, who have had three days off, are one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (45-26-7) for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins posted a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday to pull ahead.

While Montreal has suffered through a long drought between division titles, it has not finished first in the conference since claiming the Wales Conference - now the Eastern Conference - in 1989.

Buffalo, which has reached the conference finals each of the last two seasons, is fighting to stay alive in the postseason race.

Captain Jason Pominville and Derek Roy each tallied in a 4-3 shootout win over Ottawa on Thursday to keep the Sabres within five points of eighth place in the East.