MONTREAL – The Buffalo Sabres made one lineup change for tonight’s do-or-die contest against the Canadiens, inserting rookie defenseman Zach Metsa and scratching veteran Luke Schenn for Game 6 of the second-round series.
Metsa, 27, made his debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He sat out the first 11 games as a healthy scratch.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has lauded Metsa’s decision-making ability and how he breaks the puck out.
Metsa warmed up alongside defenseman Conor Timmins in the Bell Centre.
Meanwhile, defenseman Owen Power, who slid into the boards late in Wednesday’s 6-3 loss, is in the lineup.
Goalie Alex Lyon, as expected, started after relieving Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Game 5.
Ruff has also mixed up his forward lines, most notably moving top center Tage Thompson to right wing. The new trios from the pregame warm-up are below.
– Zach Benson, Josh Norris and Thompson
– Josh Doan, Ryan McLeod and Alex Tuch
– Jason Zucker, Konsta Helenius and Jack Quinn
–Jordan Greenway, Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn