Owen Beck draws in vs. Sabres: Canadiens evening report

The headline news around the Bell Centre this evening is Owen Beck stepping into the Montreal Canadiens lineup for the visit of the Buffalo Sabres. The forward, recalled from the farm team, told Sportsnet he wants to bring "speed and energy" and provide quality minutes in this latest opportunity with the big club.

Matheson out, Fowler back in goal

As we noted earlier on our site, Mike Matheson is dealing with a lower-body injury and will not play tonight against the Sabres, according to La Presse, Daily Faceoff, Sportsnet, and Eyes on the Prize, which all describe him as day-to-day. La Presse points out that the Habs enjoyed a fully healthy blue line for just a single game, last Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Eyes on the Prize also reports that Jacob Fowler will make his third consecutive start in goal this evening versus Buffalo, while Jakub Dobes is expected to face the Washington Capitals tomorrow. The Habs are hitting their first busier stretch of the schedule with the crease duties being shared between their young netminders.

Sabres in town and a look around the organization

On the ice, the Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Montreal. The Habs sit seventh in the Atlantic Division with a 2-2-1 record and five points in five games. Tonight’s matchup offers Beck a first chance to showcase himself in front of the Bell Centre crowd this season, in a divisional game that matters in the early standings.

In the background, The Hockey Writers took a look at the top 20 goal scorers in Canadiens history, underlining once again how iconic the franchise is with its 24 Stanley Cup titles. The same outlet also revisits P.K. Subban’s career and what made him stand out, from his dynamic style on the ice to his off-ice personality. Finally, Eyes on the Prize surveys the team’s European prospects and notes a slower start for Alexander Zharovsky, with mixed results overall for the Canadiens’ youngsters overseas.