BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Montreal Canadiens secured their fourth consecutive victory, marking their longest winning stretch of the season, by defeating the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 on Saturday night.
The Canadiens’ offensive efforts were led by Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson, and Alex Newhook, with Jake Evans contributing an empty-net goal. Rookie netminder Jakub Dobes showcased his skills with 23 saves during the game.
For the Sabres, Alex Tuch and Jiri Kulich each found the back of the net, while goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stood tall with 25 saves, despite his team’s recent struggles, having lost two consecutive games and three of their last five.
Caufield opened the scoring for Montreal with a power-play goal just over a minute into the second period. However, the Sabres quickly turned the tables, grabbing a 2-1 lead with two goals scored merely 1:29 apart by Tuch and Kulich.
Montreal leveled the score 2-2 when Anderson capitalized on a 4-on-3 opportunity, shortly before Newhook secured the lead by deflecting a shot past Luukkonen with less than three seconds remaining in the period. Evans’ empty-netter with just over a minute left cemented the Canadiens’ win.
Key Takeaways:
– Montreal defeated Buffalo for the third time this season, holding the potential to complete a series sweep on Monday night as they continue to compete fervently in the wild-card race.
– Despite previously enjoying a strong spell with four straight wins and victories in six out of seven games, the Sabres have slipped, currently last in the Eastern Conference standings after two successive losses.
Pivotal Moment:
Newhook’s late-period tip, coming off a Mike Matheson shot with mere seconds remaining in the second period, was crucial in giving the Canadiens a 3-2 advantage.
Noteworthy Statistic:
Lane Hutson’s two assists elevated him to second place in the Canadiens’ annals for most points recorded by a rookie defenseman, amassing 46 points. Only Chris Chelios remains ahead, with 64 points set in the 1984-85 season.
Up Next:
The Sabres will face the Canadiens once more at the Bell Center in Montreal, with the game set for Monday night.
