First period
- The crowd buzzes as Juraj Slafkovský winds up a shot. He’s getting the Cole Caufield treatment now.
- But he did miss the net, and the Sabres are the only ones who’ve tested the opposing goaltender in the opening minutes.
- The crowd ramps up after a good shift for the top fivesome. Mike Matheson misses the net this time.
- Brendan Gallagher draws a penalty in the offensive zone, and that’s a good thing.
- The first power play is … not inspiring.
- First they lose Caufield to an injury (it looks like a groin might be what he’s been missing practices for), then Mike Matheson hits Zach Benson from behind to end the power play.
- I don’t think the new lines are having the desired effect. Outside of the power play, Montreal still has no shots.
- Alex Newhook and Joshua are playing well off each other. Josh Anderson is there also.
- Roy fights through a check, gets to the puck and gets knocked down, but not before slinging the puck to the slot with one hand, and it gets all the way through to Arber Xhekaj, who is apparently still celebrating Kosovo Independence Day.
- Samuel Montembeault keeps Jeff Skinner off the board … for now.
- It was actually Matheson getting his stick to the post to deny the wraparound chance.
- Another penalty drawn in the offensive zone by the Evans line, this time it’s Joel Armia getting his stick chopped in half.
- Also Caufield is still out there, so he’s apparently going to play through this injury until it gets better. The Habs way.
First intermission
- The Sportsnet panel is actually talking about the Canadiens tonight. And multiple players!
Second period
- After a good shift from the top line, Evans comes out to follow them up, and gets drilled into the boards from behind. That looked like a worse play than the one by Matheson in the first period, and Evans is slower to get up as well.
- Xhekaj decides to throw his weight around following the hit. He’s doing it all in this game.
- Zemgus Girgensons ties the game with his fifth goal of the season, another tip in front of the net. The Habs need to tie up those sticks.
- Evans returns, and fires a shot off Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
- We interrupt the latest insipid Garry Galley banter for a Habs goal. It’s Jayden Struble, so another goal from the defence.
- It’s also another primary assist for Roy.
- Slafkovský loses the puck attempting to cycle is deep, and gets it back by yanking on the shoulder of the man who took it away.
- Joel Armia attempts a toe-drag with two of his fellow penalty-killers deep in the zone looking for a pass. A three-on-one ensues for the Sabres, and Skinner scores. That’s goals in all four of the games versus Montreal this season.
- Nick Suzuki just executed a perfect backcheck, getting back to thwart a breakaway by lifting the stick of J.J. Peterka, grabbing the puck, and sending play the other way.
- Slafkovský is back in the box for another hold. I think he’s celebrating International Hug Day.
- Xhekaj plants Girgensons as he tries to skate into the zone. The defenceman is having himself a night.
- Suzuki races in on the forecheck and lifts Rasmus Dahlin’s stick, then slings the puck one-handed on net. If that had gone in, you would have been seeing it for a long time.
- And the captain lifts another stick and steals the puck for a shot, drawing a penalty in the process. He’s mastered a new skill.
- Caufield flips the puck to the blue line looking for Matheson, and the defenceman is facing the wrong way to prevent the counter when he bobbles the puck. Alex Tuch scores on the breakaway.
- The period ends with Buffalo up 3-2. Montreal was the better team, but the errors led to prime chances that the Sabres took advantage of.
Third period
- The Canadiens have a few shots to begin the third, but it’s not exactly an urgent approach to tying this game up.
- That said, the Sabres have been a pretty good defensive team this season.
- Roy just about ties things up, as Henri Jokiharju hands him the puck eight feet from the net. The puck gets through Luukkonen, but slides out wide of the post.
- Montreal is getting zone time, just not doing enough with it.
- Luukkonen has to lunge to catch a shot redirected off the ice by Anderson, and comes up with a great save.
- Evans gets stopped by the Sabres goalie as well. It now seems like a matter of time before the Habs tie it up.
- Suzuki misses from a sharp angle with an open net.
- Newhook takes a two-handed slash from Tage Thompson, and Montreal will play six-on-four to close this out.
- A third penalty for Slafkovský will ensure than his point streak ends at eight games.
EOTP 3 Stars
3) That prospect depth has turned into NHL depth
2) I think we have one of the top-six wingers for Dach
1) I bet those Sabres would have gladly paid a fine instead
