Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres could not keep up with the Montreal Canadiens in their 7-5 defeat on Monday afternoon at KeyBank Center.
Montreal struck first with an early first-period goal, but the Sabres answered back on the very next shift.
Josh Anderson was able to record his third goal of the season after getting behind the Buffalo defense, and converting on a pass from Christian Dvorak.
However, less than 30 seconds later, Tage Thompson provided the answer with his 11th goal of the year with a great individual effort to the net.
Alex Tuch helped create the chance for Thompson, along with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Each player was credited with an assist on the game-tying goal.
For Luukkonen, it extends a week where he was named the NHL's Third Star prior to puck drop.
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The Sabres were outshot by Montreal, 8-6, in the first period. Buffalo had the lone power play opportunity, but failed to score on the advantage.
Montreal was able to take advantage of a power play chance early in the second period to re-take the lead. The Canadiens failed to score with a two-man advantage, but Cole Caufield was able to stand at the side of the net and re-direct a shot from the blue line for a 2-1 advantage.
However, once again, it was the Sabres answering back within seconds. This time, Dylan Cozens went to the net and tipped a Rasmus Dahlin shot toward the net that evened the score at 2-2.
Just under a minute later, it was Peyton Krebs beating Cayden Primeau with a wrist shot from the wing off a 2-on-1 rush to give Buffalo its first lead of the game, 3-2.
Nick Suzuki scored twice in the final minutes of the second period to flip a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead for the Canadiens. The Montreal captain scored his two goals 22 seconds apart for a 4-3 lead after two periods. Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach assisted on both goals, as well.
Meanwhile, Thompson and Mattias Samuelsson each were injured in the second period and left the contest due to lower-body injuries. Both players did not return to the game.
In addition, Devon Levi replaced Luukkonen in net for Buffalo before the start of the third period.
The Sabres took adavantage of a power play chance early in the third period to tie the score again, 4-4.
Dahlin took a quick shot off a faceoff win by Cozens in the offensive zone. Jason Zucker provided a screen at the top of the crease to help on the game-tying goal.
Just over a minute later, it was JJ Peterka who allowed the Sabres to re-take the lead. The young forward's seventh goal of the season came on the rush to the Canadiens net, capped off with a backhand shot through Primeau.
That goal-against ended the afternoon for Primeau, as Sam Montembeault took over in goal for the Canadiens.
Montreal was able to answer just past the halfway point of the third on their first shot of the period. Emil Heineman scored his third goal of the season, and used traffic in front of Levi to help beat the goaltender.
Caufield scored his second power play goal of the game, this time to give Montreal a 6-5 lead with 7:02 remaining.
Buffalo challenged the play to determine if there was a hand pass prior to the goal, but it was determined to be a good goal and the Sabres lost the challenge.
With the Sabres entering desperation mode and having pulled Levi for the extra attacker, the Canadiens added an empty net goal to complete the two-goal victory.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 4:42 - Tage Thompson (11) (Alex Tuch, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen)
MTL: 4:14 - Josh Anderson (3) (Christian Dvorak, Brendan Gallagher)
Second Period:
BUF: 5:45 - Dylan Cozens (3) (Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch); 6:44 - Peyton Krebs (Bowen Byram, Owen Power)
MTL: 5:26 - Cole Caufield (11) (Lane Hutson, Nick Suzuki); 19:13 - Nick Suzuki (5) (Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach); 19:35 - Nick Suzuki (6) (Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach)
Third Period:
BUF: 1:58 - Rasmus Dahlin (3) PPG (Dylan Cozens); 3:51 - JJ Peterka (7) (Owen Power)
MTL: 10:50 - Emil Heineman (3) (Lane Hutson, Joel Armia); 12:58 - Cole Caufield (12) PPG (Juraj Slafkovsky, Mike Matheson); 19:11 - Christian Dvorak (2) ENG (Josh Anderson)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Nick Suzuki - MTL
2.) Juraj Slafkovsky - MTL
3.) Cole Caufield - MTL
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What's next:
The Sabres will remain home to host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night at KeyBank Center. The game can only be seen on ESPN+ and Hulu, meaning the only place to hear Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray is the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550.
The Steve Foley Law Pregame Show starts at 6:30 p.m. EST, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.