The Montreal Canadiens took advantage of a Buffalo Sabres team that is having trouble finding consistency in their game and won a difficult road matchup 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday night.
Jayden Struble scored his first NHL goal on a nice give and go tip play from Johnathan Kovacevic in the second period. Moments later, Nick Suzuki scored a powerplay marker, thanks to a solid individual effort.
Credit to the Sabres, even though they were stymied by Cayden Primeau early in the game, they battle back and found a way to tie the game and force overtime.
It was a rather chippy affair and while Buffalo versus Montreal doesn’t jump out as one of the fiercest rivalries, this game featured plenty of bad blood.
Juraj Slafkovsky got the shootout winner scoring on the identical backhand moved that he failed to finish on a couple weeks ago in San Jose.
Pluses:
- Struble got his first NHL goal and it was definitely one to brag about. Beautiful passing play with Kovacevic and a perfect tip past Devon Levi.
- Slafkovsky showed off his angry streak and competitive fire. Nobody wants to see the former first overall pick get into fights on a regular basis, but good on him for not shying away from Connor Clifton when he felt like Clifton had taken a few liberties… And then a nice celebration to put icing on the cake after his winner.
- Primeau was outstanding and had his best game of the season. The Sabres had a ton of scoring chance from in tight early in the game and Primeau was up for the task. He finished with 46-saves.
- Jesse Ylonen shootout specialist? That’s 2-for-2 and he looks confident doing it.
Minuses:
- Another game and another injury, this time it’s Tanner Pearson who leaves with a hand injury.
- Justin Baron was hit from behind right on the numbers by Eric Robinson. Nick Suzuki and others quickly jumped to his defense but moments like this one make it hard not to wonder when Arber Xhekaj will be returning from Laval. And it wasn’t the only incident in the game.
- The start to the game was not strong and if not for Primeau’s heroics Montreal could have easily found themselves playing from behind.
- Brendan Gallagher was fortunate not to be assessed another penalty in the dying moments of a game. There was delayed penalty and Gallagher took two shots at Jeff Skinner who was down on the ice. It could have easily resulted in a 5-on-3 heading into overtime.
- Another game and another goal for Skinner against the Montreal Canadiens. Why can’t they stop this guy?!
Quick turnaround for the Montreal Canadiens already back in action Sunday night at the Bell Centre against the Nashville Predators.
thehabsblog.com 
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