BUFFALO, NY - Cole Caufield scored a pair of goals in the third period, including the eventual game-winning goal, to provide the Montreal Canadiens with a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night at KeyBank Center.
Montreal was able to take advantage of the first power play opportuntity for either team in the game. Tage Thompson was in the penalty box for interference when Juraj Slafkovsky was able to score his 21st goal of the season and give the Canadiens a 1-0 lead. His goal was scored thanks to quick passing by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, both forwards received assists on the goal.
Bowen Byram was called for tripping late in the first period, sending Buffalo to the penalty kill for a second time in the game. The Sabres were able to escape the first period without allowing a second special teams goal.
Buffalo was credited with 11 shots on goal in the first period. Jakub Dobes stopped all 11 shots, while the Sabres did not have a power play chance. Montreal recorded 10 shots in the first, as well.
The two teams traded power play chances early in the second period, but were able to successfully kill them off to keep Montreal in front 1-0.
However, a delayed penalty to Montreal resulted in a six-on-five opportunity for the Sabres and they were able to convert.
Owen Power's fourth goal of the season tied the game 1-1 nearly midway through the second period. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin were credited with the assists on the game-tying goal.
The Sabres were able to take a one-goal lead into the third period after Noah Ostlund scored his 10th goal of the season.
The power play goal came with just over a minute remaining in the second period. It was scored with Lane Hutson in the penalty box for high-sticking. Alex Tuch and Ryan McLeod assisted on the special teams goal.
Buffalo outshot Montreal 12-6 in the second period and held a 23-17 edge in shots after two periods.
The Canadiens were able to even the score at two less than five minutes into the third period. Caufield's first of two third period goals was scored on a deflection from a shot by Noah Dobson. Caufield was able to gain position in the slot and re-direct the puck for his 31st goal of the year.
Caufield once again was able to get to an open spot on the ice, and this time one-time a quick pass by Suzuki for a 3-2 lead. Kirby Dach kept the play alive below the goal line. He and Suzuki were credited with the assists on the go-ahead goal.
The Canadiens were able to kill off a late penalty to preserve their one-goal lead with under two minutes remaining in regulation. That allowed Oliver Kapanen to score an empty-net goal with less than a minute remaining in the third period. It cemented the 4-2 victory for Montreal, their first win against Buffalo of the three meetings this month.
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: NONE
MTL: 11:20 - Juraj Slafkovsky (21) PPG (Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield)
Second Period
BUF: 7:36 - Owen Power (4) (Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin). 18:58 - Noah Ostlund (10) (Alex Tuch, Ryan McLeod)
MTL: NONE
Third Period
BUF:
MTL: 4:14 - Cole Caufield (31) (Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson). 10:13 - Cole Caufield (32) (Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach). 19:09 - Oliver Kapanen (17) ENG (unassisted)
BlueStar Home Services Three Stars of the Game
1. Cole Caufield - MTL
2. Jakub Dobes - MTL
3. Owen Power - BUF
What's Next
The Sabres will make their first trip to the state of Florida next week for back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday night, respectively. First up for Buffalo is the Florida Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Monday night. Pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sportsradio 550 begins at 6:00 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.