The Montreal Canadiens had a must-win game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, but they couldn't deliver. Buffalo was the better of the two sides and deservedly got the two points.

The Canadiens' last loss in Buffalo came as they started on their rebuild, and though their road has been longer, the Sabres have caught up.

The surging Buffalo Sabres (25-16-4, 54 points) play the back end of a home back-to-back on Thursday night when they host the Montreal Canadiens (26-14-7, 59 points) at KeyBank Center in an Atlantic Division matchup.

Our Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions expect Habs second-liner Oliver Kapanen to keep shooting in a friendly matchup.

With 18 members of a team that reached the 2006 Eastern Conference final looking on, Tage Thompson had a 5-point night.

Two teams in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings take the ice when the Montreal Canadiens (26-14-7, fourth in conference) visit the Buffalo Sabres (25-16-4, sixth) at KeyBank Center on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Montreal suffered a 3-2 overtime defeat on the road its last time out on Jan. 13 against the Washington Capitals.

The Canadiens lost in the trenches, on the forecheck, and were ground down by the Sabres. Something has to change. Eric Engels breaks down the Habs' need for a change to their third line after a costly loss.

The Sabres are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, and are now in a playoff position after shading the Canadiens. Brian Wilde has more.

The Buffalo Sabres' recent surge and a reunion of the team's 2005-06 roster offered coach Lindy Ruff a chance to reflect and a glimpse into what could be a bright future.