Youth movement positively impacting Sabres, Canadiens

The Buffalo Sabres will look to tighten the gap in the upper half of the Atlantic Division standings when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Buffalo is fourth in the division, four points behind third-place Montreal with a game in hand on its division foe. The Sabres, who have been on a tear since Dec. 9, going 16-3-1, pulled closer to the Canadiens on Jan. 15 with a 5-3 victory in Buffalo. Tage Thompson led the way that night, factoring in on each of his team's goals with a hat trick and two assists.