The Sabres are looking to be big-time sellers at the NHL trade deadline, but Buffalo will retain two of their best players.

MONTREAL – Special-teams shortcomings stung the Buffalo Sabres – and cost them a point in the standings – as they lost 4-3 in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Monday. The Sabres overcame a three-goal deficit in the final 22 minutes of regulation before Montreal’s Mike Matheson scored the 3-on-3 game winner.

Ruff came into this season needing 36 wins to become just the fifth coach in NHL history to 900 wins. He's still 14 shy with 28 games left. Can the Sabres win half of what's left?

The past 58 games have revealed the team's roster needs more experience, leadership, toughness and players who can execute coach Lindy Ruff’s system that necessitates quick decision-making.

The Buffalo Sabres just can’t seem to figure out the Montreal Canadiens this season. Going into Monday’s game in Montreal they’re 0-3-0 against them and have been outscored 17-8.

(Photo of Lindy Ruff and Kevyn Adams: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images) Matthew Fairburn is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Buffalo Sabres. A graduate of the University of Missouri ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Lindy Ruff of course has been watching the 4 Nations Face-Off and very much enjoying the hockey, but it wasn't all fun and games for the Buffalo Sabres head coach during their 10 ...

Each goal the Buffalo Sabres allowed Saturday night, most notably Alex Newhook’s game winner in the dying moments of the second period, resulted from what they consider avoidable mistakes. Those miscues amounted to a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center.

In the waning seconds of Saturday’s second period, with skaters at four per side following coincidental minors, the Sabres went into penalty-mode killing mode.

The Buffalo winger doesn’t pay attention to trade rumors, even those involving his name, and doesn’t use social media.

As the NHL gets ready to begin the remainder of the regular season following the 4 Nations Face-Off, Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has to be looking towards the 17 days between now and the NHL trade deadline.