CHICAGO (Interstat) — The surging Buffalo Sabres, riding a three-game win streak, will face the struggling Chicago Blackhawks in a Monday night matchup at United Center with starkly different season trajectories on display. The Sabres (49-31) enter the contest firmly in playoff position and playing their best hockey of the season, having outscored opponents 14-5 during their current streak. That run was capped by a dominant 5-0 shutout of Columbus on Thursday. Chicago (28-52), long eliminated from postseason contention, has lost eight of its last ten games and is coming off a 5-3 home loss to St. Louis on Saturday. A key factor will be Buffalo goaltender Colten Ellis, who is expected to start. He was impeccable in his last outing, stopping all 36 shots for the shutout against Columbus. His performance has been a microcosm of the team’s recent form, though he allowed six goals in a loss to Washington on April 4. For the Blackhawks, forward Ilya Mikheyev has been a rare bright spot amid the losses. He scored two goals in the loss to St. Louis and has recorded five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in his last six games. His consistent effort will be crucial for Chicago to test Ellis and the Buffalo defense. The teams last met on Nov. 21, 2025, in a game that saw the Sabres explode for a 9-3 victory in Buffalo. The Sabres’ current momentum, fueled by balanced scoring and strong goaltending, suggests a similar offensive threat. Chicago’s defensive struggles, having allowed five or more goals in four of their last ten games, will be severely challenged. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CDT at United Center. Following this game, Buffalo returns home to host the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, while Chicago remains home to face the San Jose Sharks the same night.