The Montreal Canadiens entered the sport on a sizzling streak, popping out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, profitable three straight video games. They headed to Buffalo for his or her fourth recreation since that break, the place they held a five-game win streak towards the Buffalo Sabres on the KeyBank Middle. Montreal discovered a approach to win, extending their streak, and now sit three factors behind the Detroit Crimson Wings for the ultimate Wild Card spot for the playoffs.
Jakub Dobes had his first begin in three weeks. His final win was on Jan. 19 towards the New York Rangers, and he was going through the Sabres primary goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who performed two days prior towards the Carolina Hurricanes however was pulled after giving up three targets on the primary seven photographs. Luukkonen was trying to redeem himself. He allowed three targets on 28 photographs, and a number of other have been tough, point-blank saves. He did every little thing he might to offer his staff an opportunity to win.
Whereas the Canadiens ended up with the victory, there have been some excessive factors for Buffalo. The Dylan Cozens line was dominant towards the Canadiens, who had no reply to their measurement, pace and energy. That line had a aim and a 75% Corsi for share (CF%). Nonetheless, the Canadiens have been capable of finding a approach to win and lengthen their profitable streak in Buffalo to 6 video games.
Recreation Recap
Lane Hutson was the offensive catalyst for Montreal all night time. The rookie defender leads all rookies in factors, and it’s clear why. His imaginative and prescient, palms, dogged pursuit of the puck, and fearlessness to make performs when he has possession are enjoyable to look at. On the Sabres’ facet, Rasmus Dahlin lives as much as his first general billing as he performs many minutes, can dominate bodily, and can also be an offensive catalyst.
Buffalo’s cycle recreation, which was solely in a position to get put in sporadically, left the Canadiens scrambling and confused when it was. And the Sabres put a whole lot of stress on Montreal within the last jiffy of the opening body, forcing Dobes to make a point-blank save after Jiri Kulich was left alone within the slot. This led to the Sabres getting an influence play that Montreal was in a position to kill off.
The offense for each groups awakened within the second interval, with 5 targets scored between the 2 golf equipment. Early within the second, Dobes was in a position to get a chunk of a tough Dahlin shot, however Montreal was awarded an influence play after Cole Caufield’s stick was slashed out of his palms. Then, after a robust defensive play by Jordan Greenway to dam a shot, they acquired an opportunity to attain whereas shorthanded, and Lane Hutson was in a position to break up that play and transfer the puck shortly up ice to permit a three-on-two that Caufield transformed for a power-play aim (his 20th aim on the street this season) on a go from Patrik Laine. That provides him 29 targets, a brand new profession excessive.
Buff-allô Cole
Chilly exterior, Cole inside #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/D3ySZpp2On
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 2, 2025
5 minutes later, Alex Tuch buried a one-timer to tie it up at one a chunk. Nevertheless it was the 45 seconds main as much as that aim, the place the Sabres out-battled the Canadiens’ fourth line, producing a cycle that Montreal couldn’t resolve that gave him that chance. And solely 90 seconds later, Kulich gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead because the Sabres’ assault benefitted from one other positional error by the Canadiens forwards.
The Sabres dominated the primary 10 minutes of the center body, as they managed nearly all of puck possession, with over 78% of Corsi for, and 4 of their first 5 photographs have been clear scoring probabilities. Montreal merely had no reply for stopping the Sabres from attacking the slot or establishing their cycle recreation. It was at this level that the Canadiens’ high line determined to encourage the staff by enjoying a dominant shift, which appeared to get up the Montreal facet as they turned the tables on puck possession, scoring two extra targets to complete the interval. Josh Anderson buried a aim after one other Hutson rush and one other, with solely seconds left within the interval the place Alex Newhook tipped a Mike Matheson slap go whereas the groups have been at 4 on 4.
The third interval noticed Buffalo, led by Cozens’ line, dominate puck possession. Nonetheless, strong defensive performs by the Canadiens’ blue line, particularly Jayden Struble, and Dobes settling in and stopping every little thing thrown at him ensured that Montreal acquired the win. Buffalo pulled Luukkonen with over two minutes left; nevertheless, they have been unable to discover a approach to beat Dobes, after which Jake Evans scored an empty internet aim on a two-on-one with Christian Dvorak to stretch the Canadiens result in 4-2 with 98 seconds remaining to make sure the win.
With the NHL Commerce Deadline developing in per week, each fanbases are watching what may very well be the ultimate video games for a number of gamers. For Buffalo, will Cozens or Bowen Byram be dealt? For Montreal, it’s attainable this was the final time the Canadiens’ high penalty-killing unit was led by Jake Evans and Joel Armia. For Buffalo, rumours are nonetheless swirling about a number of of their younger gamers. The subsequent recreation for each groups will probably be Monday, March 3 in Montreal because the groups play the second half of a back-to-back.