# Sabres and Canadiens adjust their lineups for Bell Centre meeting

Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin is unavailable while Montreal turns again to Jacob Fowler and recalls Owen Beck.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / Ice hockey
Published: 2026-10-13T22:06:48.588Z
Updated: 2026-10-13T22:06:48.588Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/sabres-canadiens-injury-changes-uozpef

## Summary
- Buffalo enters 3-3-0 and Montreal 2-2-1.
- Mike Matheson is sidelined; Owen Beck makes his season debut.
- Jacob Fowler is set for a third consecutive Montreal start.

## Division rivals meet again

Buffalo visits Montreal at the Bell Centre on October 13 in a matchup between Atlantic Division rivals navigating early injuries and uneven results. The Hockey News listed the Sabres at 3-3-0 with six points and the Canadiens at 2-2-1 with five ahead of the scheduled 6:30 p.m. Eastern start. Buffalo is seeking its first road victory and faces the team that eliminated it from last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs. [1](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/game-day/buffalo-sabres-at-montreal-canadiens---lineups-injury-updates-and-game-notes)

## A change on Montreal’s blue line

The Canadian Press, in a report published by Sportsnet, said Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson will miss the game with a lower-body injury and is considered day to day. Matheson carries the Canadiens’ second-highest average ice time. Forward Owen Beck is set for his season debut after a recall from Laval, returning the club to a more conventional forward-defenseman balance after Saturday’s 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup. [2](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canadiens-matheson-out-vs-sabres-with-lower-body-injury-beck-to-play/)

## Fowler gets another opportunity

Jacob Fowler will make his third straight start for Montreal, the Canadian Press reported. He stopped 30 shots and all six Detroit shootout attempts in Saturday’s 1-0 victory, earning his second NHL shutout. The 21-year-old was recalled after Samuel Montembeault was injured in practice. His recent selection ahead of Jakub Dobes gives the Canadiens another look at a young goaltender coming off an effective performance. [2](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canadiens-matheson-out-vs-sabres-with-lower-body-injury-beck-to-play/)

## Buffalo’s workload and special teams

The Hockey News said Tuesday completes Buffalo’s first back-to-back of the season after Monday’s 5-3 win over Florida. Owen Power had seven points in six games, matching Tage Thompson’s total. Buffalo’s overall power-play rate was 13.6%, while Montreal’s was 5.9%; the Sabres’ recent conversions offered a better picture than that season-wide figure alone. These are entering statistics, rather than a prediction of Tuesday’s result. [1](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/game-day/buffalo-sabres-at-montreal-canadiens---lineups-injury-updates-and-game-notes)

## Captain unavailable

Buffalo confirmed captain Rasmus Dahlin did not travel to Montreal and is day to day with an upper-body injury. [3](https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/how-to-watch-buffalo-sabres-montreal-canadiens-preview-lineup)

## Reporting sources
1. [The Hockey News: Buffalo Sabres At Montreal Canadiens: Lineups, Injury Updates and Game Notes](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/game-day/buffalo-sabres-at-montreal-canadiens---lineups-injury-updates-and-game-notes) (2026-10-13)
2. [Sportsnet / Canadian Press: Canadiens’ Matheson out vs. Sabres; Beck to play](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canadiens-matheson-out-vs-sabres-with-lower-body-injury-beck-to-play/) (2026-10-13)
3. [Buffalo Sabres: Sabres at Canadiens: How to watch, lineup notes and storylines](https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/how-to-watch-buffalo-sabres-montreal-canadiens-preview-lineup) (2026-10-13)