Question number one of our preview this afternoon was “How are the Sabres going to look against the top team in the league?” Based on the score, not well. But, there was a point in the game where one could have thought that the Sabres could have a decent shot of giving the Canadiens their first loss of the season. Then the wheels came off the bus, the bus careened off a cliff, blew up, and ended up into a smoldering heap of twisted metal.
Much of the Sabres problems in their 7-2 loss came at the hands of Chad Johnson. Johnson was not sharp in this game and many of his killer goals that were allowed came at a time where the Sabres could have used the momentum that was building in the game to give Montreal some serious pressure. Johnson finished the game with 19 saves on 26 shots and will most likely get Saturday night off against the Devils, though that decision had not officially been made at the time of writing.
The Canadiens power play was a deadly force, going two for three in 3:20 of total power play time. Montreal scored four seconds into their first power play and 1:16 into the second. Both goals proved to be daggers for the Sabres chances of making any sort of comeback in the game.
On the bright side, there was some talent displayed by the Sabres, mainly coming at the hands of Matt Moulson and Sam Reinhart. Reinhart found Moulson with a no look pass in front of the net to give the Sabres their first goal of the game.
Matt Moulson from Reinhart and Franson, 2-1 Montreal pic.twitter.com/mnfHFMYmaB
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 24, 2015
Reinhart was asked after the game if he saw Moulson for the pass and had a fairly classic response. “I knew he was on the ice so I knew he was going to be in the right spot.”
The Sabres other goal came off a Ryan O’Reilly shot that was just five seconds into the Sabres second power play of the game.
Ryan O’Reilly ties the game pic.twitter.com/VMiVLbskRt
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 24, 2015
With the win, the Canadiens continue to stay undefeated and match the mark of the 1975-76 Sabres as the only teams to win their first eight games in regulation. The Sabres look to put this game behind them quickly as they take on the New Jersey Devils.
Three Questions Answered
1.) How will the Sabres look against a top team like Montreal?
A 7-2 loss doesn’t fare well in the comparison department.
2.) Who will be on the top line tonight?
Dan Byslma didn’t play around with the lines heading into the game, keeping the morning skate lines intact. They didn’t shuffle much at all either throughout the game.
3.) Will a former Sabre score tonight?
If you had Torrey Mitchell in the former Sabre scoring pool, congratulations, you get to take home the prize. Mitchell scored what ended up being the game winning goal off a deflection of a P.K. Subban shot in the second period.