Veleno and Xhekaj In, Gallagher and Struble Out: Canadiens Shake Lineup for Game 1 Against Buffalo

The Montreal Canadiens are rolling the dice with their roster for Game 1 of their second-round matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night. Forward Joe Veleno and defenseman Arber Xhekaj are drawing into the lineup, while Brendan Gallagher and Jayden Struble sit this one out as Montreal looks to carry momentum from their seven-game series victory over Tampa Bay.

Veleno Gets His Playoff Chance

This is a big moment for Veleno. The forward didn't see any ice during Montreal's first-round triumph over the Lightning, but he was locked in during the regular season, suiting up for 61 games and notching two goals and three assists. Now the Canadiens are betting that fresh legs and a new perspective can give them a spark against Buffalo's defense.

Xhekaj Returns After Being Benched in Game 7

Xhekaj's path back is a bit different. He played in the first six games of the Tampa Bay series, posting one assist and a plus-3 rating before getting scratched for Game 7. Now he's back in the lineup to shore up Montreal's blue line when it matters most.

Gallagher and Struble Hit the Bench

Gallagher drew into the final three games against the Lightning and even scored in Game 5, but he's out for Game 1. Struble, meanwhile, appeared in all seven games against Tampa Bay but never found the back of the net, and now he'll watch from the press box.

Game 1 gets going Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. The Canadiens are heading into Buffalo looking to strike first in this second-round showdown.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.