Montreal, Quebec (WGR 550) - For the second time this week, the Buffalo Sabres found themselves involved in a one-goal regulation affair.
After Monday's game against the Anaheim Ducks didn't go their way, the Sabres rebounded on Wednesday night for a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens collected the only goal of the opening 20 minutes of play.
At the 12:41 mark of the first period, a crowd gathered for a puck in front of Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The puck eventually scooted free towards the left-wing circle, and big Montreal defenseman Arber Xhekaj wound up for a slapshot that found twine to make it 1-0, Canadiens.
The second period saw four total goals; three for the blue and gold and one for Montreal. The two sides started by trading a score each.
Just 4:20 into the frame, Zemgus Girgensons knotted things at 1-1 with a re-direction off a Henri Jokiharju point shot.
Montreal took their lead back a little over two minutes later thanks to a shot from defenseman Jayden Struble that went in off Sabres forward Peyton Krebs.
After that, the Sabres utilized their special teams to take their first lead of the night.
First, it was winger Jeff Skinner nabbing his 18th goal of the season with a power play goal off a rebound from a Dylan Cozens shot.
Then in the waning moments of the second period, winger Alex Tuch capitalized on a sloppy Canadiens power play with a shorthanded goal on a breakaway.
Despite getting vastly outshot in the third period, Luukkonen and the Sabres weathered the storm and kept the Canadiens at bay to earn the 3-2 victory.
----------
SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
MTL: 12:41 - Arber Xhekaj (3) (Joshua Roy, David Savard)
Second Period:
BUF: 4:20 - Zemgus Girgensons (5) (Henri Jokiharju, Rasmus Dahlin); 9:28 - Jeff Skinner (18) PPG (Dylan Cozens, Tage Thompson); 18:08 - Alex Tuch (16) SHG (Unassisted)
MTL: 6:35 - Jayden Struble (3) (Joshua Roy, Alex Newhook)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
MTL: NONE
----------
----------
Losi & Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
2.) Joshua Roy - MTL
3.) Arber Xhekaj - MTL
----------
What's next:
The Sabres head to Nationwide Arena in Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets for a Friday night puck drop just after 7 p.m. EST. Pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550 - starts at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.