MONTREAL -- Patrik Laine scored his first hat trick with the Montreal Canadiens, leading to a dominant 6-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. This win extended the Sabres’ winless streak to 11 games, deepening their struggles this season.
The Canadiens quickly took control of the game, with Joel Armia scoring just 19 seconds after the puck dropped. This aggressive start showcased Montreal’s intent to build on their previous two-game skid, which included a staggering 9-2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins last Thursday.
Laine, who has been making waves since his off-season acquisition, scored three goals for the 11th time in his career, marking his fourth goal of the season. His first came from capitalizing on power-play opportunities, which was indicative of the Canadiens' strategic advantage throughout the game. According to the Associated Press, "Armia scored only 19 secondsinto the game, capitalizing on a wide-open net after Sabres defenseman Owen Power mishandled the puck off the end boards."
Adding to the Canadiens' early success, Laine’s goals arrived mid-second period on two five-on-three power plays, showcasing his remarkable ability to find the net when it mattered most. Both goals thrilled the crowd, leading to hats being tossed onto the ice and raucous applause from Montreal fans when Laine’s third goal was announced.
The Sabres, on the other hand, could not muster much energy or execution throughout the match. They managed to record their first shot on goal only 10 minutes and 5 seconds after the start, which is starkly indicative of their slow beginning. Buffalo was cited as the team unable to stay out of the penalty box, accruing five minor penalties within the first two periods, contributing significantly to their struggles.
Dylan Cozens managed to put the Sabres on the board with his seventh goal of the season, momentarily narrowing the deficit to 2-1. This was short-lived, as Juraj Slafkovsky answered back just over two minutes later to restore Montreal’s two-goal lead.
Montreal's Sam Montembeault played solidly, stopping 20 shots, showing resilience against the Sabres' sporadic attacks. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced 21 shots, making 15 saves before being replaced by backup James Reimer. Reimer stepped up to stop all six shots he faced during the final period.
Despite the increased workload for their goaltenders, the Sabres' defense faltered, resulting in more opportunities for the Canadiens to capitalize. Laine’s ability to exploit the five-on-three power plays highlighted the effectiveness of Montreal’s execution, as the team ended with multiple scoring opportunities against Buffalo's struggling penalty-killing unit.
Fans expressed their frustrations, and signs of discontent were evident as theories about the effectiveness of team ownership swirled around the Bell Centre following the loss. The defeat came just after Sabres owner Terry Pegula made the trip to Montreal for what could only be described as unaffecting team meetings. The visit evidently did not spark the intended response, as both fans and analysts alike remain skeptical about the team’s morale and performance levels.
The matchup's conclusion leaves the Sabres at 11-17-4 and emphasizing their dire need to turn the season around. Next, the Canadiens look forward to facing the Detroit Red Wings this Friday, hoping to maintain their momentum after this dominant display. Meanwhile, the Sabres will host the Toronto Maple Leafs, aiming to halt their unfortunate trend of misfortune.
This clear division of success between the two teams was amplified at this fixture, as the Canadiens demonstrated offensive prowess and strategic execution, whereas the Sabres were left stumbling through yet another match, desperately seeking answers moving forward.
