Buffalo Sabres Host Montreal Canadiens

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: Eric Bolte-US PRESSWIRE

Desperation should be on tap for both the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens tonight at the First Niagara Center, as both teams are desperate for a win to keep them in the talks of playoff contention.

After putting a nice stretch of games together, the Sabres find themselves stuck in the same spot in the standings thanks to a four game slide. Both the Sabres and Canadiens come into tonights with a 5-4-1 record in their last ten contests.

The fourth of six meetings, the Buffalo Sabres have won all three games, scoring three goals in each contest against Montreal. Offense has been the bane of the Sabres as of late, and will need to play a defensive minded contest against the Canadiens to re-spark any sort of playoff speak. Montreal has scored 15 goals over their last four games, Buffalo has allowed 13 in their last three. If the Sabres drop tonights contest, their 2011-2012 season should all be considered over, as they will be nothing more than playing spoiler to any visiting or opposing teams going forward. Must Win should be on the board in the locker room for all to see.

“In the first I think we had control,” captain Jason Pominville said. “We were doing some good things. We were generating chances. … The momentum just changed sides and they took over from that point on. That’s when we have to lock in and be smart and be better and we can’t play the way we did.”

The game last night against the Flyers might have been the final nail in the coffin for this team. Dropping a two goal lead is one thing, allowing seven unanswered goals is purely unacceptable. Hockey games are 60 minutes long. Too many times this season the Buffalo Sabres have logged 20 minutes and then let their opponents skate over them.

Its an MSG game, so once again those with Time Warner Cable are blacked out. Game time is 730.

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