Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Montreal Canadiens erased a one-goal deficit in the second period to upend the Buffalo Sabres, 4-2, on Saturday night at KeyBank Center.
Neither team was able to score in the opening 20 minutes of play. Buffalo was credited with eight shots on goal, compared to nine for the Canadiens.
Each team had a power play chance in the first period. However, an opportunity with less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame resulted in a carry over chance to start the second period.
An early power play chance for Montreal in the second period yielded the game's first goal.
Patrik Laine made a pass across the ice in transition to Cole Caulfield, who used a one-timer to beat Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for a 1-0 Canadiens lead.
Buffalo answered minutes later, as defenseman Jacob Bryson was able to pinch in from the blue line and deliver a pass from below the goal line to Alex Tuch. Tuch buried a one-timer into the top of the net past Jakub Dobes to tie the game at 1-1.
The goal was Tuch's 22nd of the season, and came just over six minutes into the second period.
The Sabres forward has been a key contributor to the offense all season long, but especially over the last several games.
Less than a minute-and-a-half later, Jiri Kulich also deposited a one-timer of his own off a cross-ice pass from Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin to put Buffalo ahead, 2-1.
The goal was Kulich's 12th of the season, while Dahlin and JJ Peterka were credited with the assists.
Josh Anderson scored his 10th goal of the year later in the second period, helping Montreal even the score again at 2-2. Christian Dvorak and Lane Hutson received the assists on the game-tying goal.
The Canadiens were able to re-take the lead with a goal just before the end of the period. Alex Newhook re-directed a shot from the slot into the net with less than three seconds remaining in the second for a 3-2 lead heading to the locker room.
Jake Evans doubled Montreal's lead to 4-2 with just under two minutes remaining in regulation thanks to an empty-net goal. His 12th goal of the season was assisted by Dvorak, who made the pass to help create the goal.
Buffalo was credited with seven shots on goal in the third period, but failed to score and even the score before the empty-net goal for the Canadiens.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
MTL: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 6:04 - Alex Tuch (22) (Jacob Bryson); 7:33 - Jiri Kulich (12) (Rasmus Dahlin, JJ Peterka)
MTL: 1:13 - Cole Caulfield (29) PPG (Patrik Laine, Nick Suzuki); 13:33 - Josh Anderson (10) (Christian Dvorak, Lane Hutson); 19:57 - Alex Newhook (12) (Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
MTL: 18:22 - Jake Evans (12) ENG (Christian Dvorak)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Newhook - MTL
2.) Lane Hutson - MTL
3.) Alex Tuch - BUF
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What's next:
Buffalo and Montreal will complete their home-and-home series on Monday night at the Bell Centre. The puck drops in Montreal at 7 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog begins at 6 p.m.