The key to beating the Sabres is simple

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
The key to beating the Sabres is simple
Credit: Capture d'écran Twitter

Yesterday, the Canadiens were forced to adjust to the Sabres.

After an emotional series against the Lightning, which really drained the Habs' players, the Canadiens realized that the Sabres present a different challenge in terms of speed and physicality.

Yesterday, it felt like a regular-season game. I've heard that one a lot in the last few hours.

If we keep that in mind, we might think the Canadiens would benefit from returning to a regular-season format, precisely. During the regular season, the team was actually successful.

In our view, bringing back Oliver Kapanen (in a series where things are less chaotic and getting to the net might be easier) could be a logical solution right now.

Would breaking up the first line (which isn't clicking at five-on-five) to bring back Juraj Slafkovsky with Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen hurt the Canadiens or not?

Kapanen (who has two goals and eight shots in four games this season against the Sabres) has had success with these two players this season. He's still scored 22 goals this season, many of them by getting dirty in the traffic.

He's spent the season in a big role, and even though he was playing above his level and I was in favor of taking him out of the lineup recently, giving him another shot on the second line might be the solution at this point.

And if that doesn't work… we'll try something else.

Obviously, that would also mean Joe Veleno would be out of the lineup and a guy like Kirby Dach, Alexandre Texier, or Josh Anderson would move up to the first line.

But going back to basics could pay off. The conditions are right for this to work.


overtime

We'll see if we get answers to our questions starting at 1:30 p.m., when the Canadiens players hit the ice for their daily practice.

Expect to see Martin St-Louis playing his cards close to his chest. Or at least trying to.

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