Tonight Buffalo will have another shot to tie the idle 8th Washington Capitals. Another team they are creeping closer is the Ottawa Senators. A win tonight puts Buffalo 4 points behing Ottawa, within yelling distance. Ottawa plays Montreal, Pittsburgh, and Winnipeg in their next three (at Winnipeg). Right now though the focus remains on Washington.

Tonight division rival the Montreal Canadiens come into the FN Center. Buffalo has won 4 of the 5 meetings this season. The last game was a 3-2 OT win. Tyler Myers returns tonight after being suspended from a hit on Scott Gomez in that Montreal game. Buffalo went 1-0-2 in the games Myers was out.

Montreal comes in 4-3-4 in their last 11, and by no means are a push over. Buffalo got a small break last meeting with Peter Budaj being in goal. No such luck tonight Carey Price will be in goal tonight for the Habs.

A little bit of surprising news came out today in the morning skate Patrick Kaleta will not play tonight because of another injury. Also Nathan Gerbe will again be out of the lineup tonight with a strained muscle. To replace PK36 Buffalo has called up Travis Turnbull from Rochester. Turnbull is having a career year with 27 points in 53 games (12 g 15 a). Turnbull is more of the grinder type that is being brought up to handle any possible ruckus the Habs try to throw out in response to the Myers hit on Gomez (wouldn't Habs fans be happy Gomez is out?).

With Myers back Ruff has to make a decision on who to play as the 6th defenseman Sulzer or Weber. Some people thought Buffalo would roll with 7 D, however Ruff already said Turbull is playing so Weber or Sulzer has to come out. My money is on Weber sitting.

Miller in goal obviously.

The FN Center should be rocking tonight with 8th place on the line and half of the arena full of Habs fans. With it being 80 degrees in Buffalo on March 21st, you can smell the playoff hockey in the air.

Projected Lineup:

Foligno-Ennis-Stafford

Vanek-Hodgson-Tropp

Leino-Roy-Pominville

Myers-Leopold

Ehrhoff-Sulzer

Regehr-Sekera

Miller

(Enroth)