BUFFALO, N.Y. — Cole Caufield tallied two goals, including the decisive score, helping the Montreal Canadiens secure a 7-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.

This victory marked a significant turnaround for the Canadiens, who had been mired in a six-game losing streak, while simultaneously snapping the Sabres’ three-game winning streak.

Caufield’s performance was noteworthy, as his two goals brought his season total to an impressive 12, placing him at the top of the league. The game-winner occurred during a power play with 7:02 remaining in the third period, establishing a lead that the Canadiens would not relinquish.

In an unfortunate turn of events for Buffalo, star player Tage Thompson and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson left the game due to lower-body injuries and did not return.

Rasmus Dahlin and Dylan Cozens shone for the Sabres, contributing one goal and one assist each. Additional scoring came from Thompson, Peyton Krebs, and JJ Peterka, who all found the back of the net for Buffalo.

From the Canadiens’ perspective, Nick Suzuki also made a significant impact by scoring twice and assisting on one of Caufield’s goals. Juraj Slafkovsky showcased his skills with three assists, while other goals were netted by Josh Anderson, Christian Dvorak, and Emil Heineman.

Takeaway notes from the game included Thompson’s continued scoring streak, marking his fourth consecutive game with a goal. Historically, only three players in the last 25 years have recorded longer scoring streaks for the Sabres: Jason Pominville with six games in the 2006-2007 season, Dahlin with five games in the 2022-2023 season, and Thomas Vanek with five in 2008-2009.

For the Canadiens, Suzuki’s assist on Caufield’s second goal allowed him to reach a milestone of 300 career points in just 389 games—a remarkable achievement, making him one of the fastest players in the past 35 years to reach this mark. He ranks behind only Stephane Richer (336 games), Saku Koivu (381 games), and Chris Chelios (385 games).

A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Thompson left the ice with 18:08 remaining in the second period, a loss that had immediate ramifications for the Sabres’ performance.

Statistically, the Canadiens’ seven goals represent their highest scoring output in a single game since achieving nine goals against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 9, 2024.

Looking forward, the Sabres will finish their three-game homestand with a matchup against the St. Louis Blues, while the Canadiens will conclude a challenging four-game road trip against the Minnesota Wild, both scheduled for Thursday night.