Music: {allcanada} Montreal (7-4-1) at Buffalo (3-8-2)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

{allcanada} Montreal (7-4-1) at Buffalo (3-8-2)

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Game info: 7:30 pm EDT Fri Nov 5, 2010
TV: RDS, MSG

Reeling from a slow start and injuries to top contributors, the Buffalo Sabres are hoping to get their season on track. Picking up their first victory at home would be a good start.

Buffalo faces the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night looking to finally win at HSBC Arena after an 0-5-1 start there.

The Sabres may not have Ryan Miller (notes) as they try to pick up the elusive home victory, as the star goaltender's status is uncertain due to a lower-body injury suffered Oct. 29 at Atlanta. Miller sat out a 5-2 home loss to Boston on Tuesday.

Patrick Lalime (notes), likely to start if Miller can't go, relieved rookie Jhonas Enroth (notes) after he gave up three goals on 12 shots in the first period.

Buffalo (3-8-2) has lost four straight, and coach Lindy Ruff recently benched captain Craig Rivet (notes) for two games. The defenseman returned to the lineup against the Bruins and didn't record a point.

"We're looking at trying to get a win, and guys are uptight before we even start the game," Rivet said. "The breakdowns are coming from guys squeezing their sticks like it's a grenade."

Ruff questioned his team's effort in the latest loss, which kept the Sabres tied for the fewest points in the NHL with eight.

"Guys were racing to get off the ice instead of racing to get on," said Ruff, whose team has been outscored 22-11 at home.

Leading scorer Derek Roy (notes) was held without a point in the past two games after getting six points in his previous three.

Forward Jason Pominville (notes) returned to the lineup after missing nine games because of a concussion, recording an assist.

While Montreal (7-4-1) sits atop the Northeast Division, the Canadiens plan on making some changes.

Montreal lost its second straight Tuesday after winning four in a row. The 3-0 defeat in Columbus marked the second time the Canadiens have been shut out this season.

Montreal has managed one goal in the last two losses after averaging 3.5 goals during its win streak, and coach Jacques Martin said he hopes to spark the Canadiens' play with some personnel moves.

"It's time for some experiments," Martin told the team's official website. "We've got some lines that are creating some opportunities and other lines are not. We'll look at the video and analyze and see what we can bring as far as a solution."

One change will be high-scoring forward Michael Cammalleri (notes) moving to the point on the power play. The Canadiens rank 29th in the league with the man advantage at 7.1 percent (3 of 42).

"I've played that role in the past, a few years back now. It's a little strange to find myself there again but it's a good thing to make some changes from time to time," Cammalleri said. "I think it's something we need to do right now and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish from the point."

The Sabres are 5-1-1 in their last seven home games against the Canadiens, with the only regulation loss in that span coming Oct. 15. Carey Price (notes) made 22 saves in Montreal's 2-1 victory.