Buffalo takes the lead and closes it out with a solid effort.
Score: Sabres 3, Canadiens 2
Shots: BUF: 23 MTL: 31
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Zemgus Girgensons (5), Jeff Skinner (18, PPG), Alex Tuch (16, SHG)
Montreal Canadiens Goals: Arber Xhekaj (3), Jayden Struble (3)
Plus 1: Girgensons Gets the Tip-In
After the Habs scored in the first period, Zemgus Girgensons tipped the puck past Montreal goalie Sam Montembeault 4:20 into the second to tie it at 1. Girgensons’ fifth goal of the season changed the hostile crowd at the Bell Centre from raucous cheering to sullen silence.
The Latvian left winger hadn’t had a goal since Jan. 18. Buffalo needed to get back in the game and No. 28 was there to make it happen.
Plus 2: Skinner Scores on the PP
The Habs unfortunately didn’t sit back after Girgensons’ tying tip-in. Jayden Struble beat UPL with a wrister just two minutes later, bringing the quiet blue, white and red fans back to life. However, Jeff Skinner answered with his own wrister to even things once again with assists from Dylan Cozens and Tage Thompson. Skinner’s 18th goal of the 2023-24 was his first since Jan 9.
The veteran sniper hasn’t scored that often compared to past seasons. He has done well against the Habs, scoring in all four matchups versus Montreal this year. Just like Tage Thompson in the Anaheim game, No. 53’s lone goal of the night was on the power play. Maybe it’ll be Tuch’s turn to net one with the man advantage next.
Plus 3: Tuch Has a Short-Hander
Speaking of, forward Alex Tuch did score on a power play, but used the Canadiens’ man advantage, taking the puck away from Habs’ defenseman Mike Matheson and beating Montembeault give Buffalo a 3-2 lead. Tuch has now enjoyed one short-handed goal each of the past three seasons.
No. 89 has a knack for putting the nail in opposing teams’ coffins. That was no different in this game, because Luukkonen and the D killed off any further Montreal scoring opportunities the rest of the night.
Plus 4: UPL Back to Form
After getting beat versus the Anaheim Ducks and letting in four goals on 15 shots, Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the opposite in Montreal. He started off a little shaky, letting in an early goal in the first period and another in the second that made Sabres’ supporters nervous.
UPL settled down after that, shutting out the Habs for the remainder of this contest. Luukkonen was spectacular during the third period, surviving more than one moment where fans’ hearts raced and breaths stopped.
Good teams can’t win without great goalies. No. 1 was fantastic in front of Buffalo’s net, blocking 29 of 31 shots against the Habs. More of that, please.
Final Thoughts
Apologist 42 had the Comment of the Game: “That was the opposite of the ANA game. Fall behind early, tie it, fall behind again, tie it then take the lead. Then hold on to the 1 goal lead in the 3rd with top notch goaltending. Nice win!”
The Sabres let in the first goal and it seemed like whenever they tied it up, the Habs were there to answer back. This time, the Blue and Gold took a 3-2 lead in the second period and kept it, something they haven’t always done in past contests.
The Canadiens threw everything they had at the Sabres in the final 20, even getting a 6-4 man advantage with less than two minutes to go on a Thompson slashing penalty. However, Juraj Slavkofsky, who seemed to love the box tonight, slashed Cozens and Buffalo closed out the final seconds.
Fans want to see more of the solid effort, discipline and focus on offense, defense and goaltending they witnessed in this game. The Sabres can become a top-scoring NHL team again, but it’ll take consistency every time they step onto the ice, not just every other matchup.
Buffalo heads home to face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. at KeyBank Center.
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