BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Montreal Canadiens extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 4-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night. This win, achieved at KeyBank Center, boosts the Canadiens’ hopes as they chase for playoff contention.
Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson, Alex Newhook, and Jake Evans contributed goals for Montreal, with Jakub Dobes making 23 saves to secure the win. The Sabres, who have been struggling lately, had Alex Tuch and Jiri Kulich find the back of the net, but they remain winless for two consecutive games.
Caufield opened the scoring for Montreal with a power-play goal just 1:13 minutes after the start of the second period, giving the Canadiens the early lead. This event marked the start of an intense second period, which saw both teams trade leads.
After Caufield’s goal, the Sabres answered back with two quick strikes. Tuch found the net at 6:04, leveling the game at 1-1 after winning a battle behind the net after Jacob Bryson’s strategic play. Just under two minutes later, Kulich capitalized on a pass from Rasmus Dahlin to give Buffalo the edge, putting them up 2-1.
Not to be outdone, the Canadiens quickly regrouped, with Anderson scoring on a 4-on-3 rush at 13:33 of the second period, bringing the game back to even at 2-2. It was Newhook’s performance, tipping Mike Matheson’s shot past Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with only 2.6 seconds remaining, which clinched the Canadiens’ lead before the break, making it 3-2.
Evans sealed the Canadiens' win with an empty-net goal at 18:22 of the third period, ensuring Montreal’s solid performance throughout the match. With this victory, the Canadiens have beaten the Sabres for the third time this season and can complete the season sweep when both teams meet again on Monday night at the Bell Center.
The Canadiens' success is significant as they continue their push for the playoffs and are striving to maintain momentum through their upcoming games. This winning streak marks their best performance of the season, and they are currently sitting well within the race for the wild card spot. On the other side, the Sabres have found themselves facing adversity, losing two consecutive games after having won six of their previous seven. They sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, which raises concerns about their playoff ambitions.
Lane Hutson’s two assists during the game allowed him to set the record as the second-most points by a rookie defenseman in Canadiens history, now totaling 46, just 18 points shy of Chris Chelios who holds the record with 64 points from the 1984-85 season.
Both team players will enter their next match with high expectations, with the Canadiens aiming to extend their winning streak and the Sabres seeking redemption. The outcome of the next meeting will likely be instrumental for both teams as they navigate the pressure and excitement of this late-season stretch.
The stage is set for another thrilling encounter, and fans on both sides are eager to see how the narrative of this fierce rivalry continues to develop. With the Canadiens riding high from their latest success and the Sabres desperate to break their slump, the next clash promises to bring intensity as both teams compete for valuable points in the standings.