Crooked, but victorious | The Journal of Montreal

BUFFALO | In a long 82-game season, there are nights when you deserve a better fate and nights when you go out with the win, when all the elements were pointing to a loss.

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The result of the confrontation between the Canadiens and the Sabers on Thursday night at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo reflects the second scenario. Despite a massive inert attack, a few moments of indiscipline and 45 shots awarded to the locals, the Habs got away with a narrow victory of 3 to 2.

Josh Anderson, with his third goal of the season, made the difference with just under four minutes to go.

“It feels good to be rewarded. Our line got a few scoring chances. We worked hard and we spent time in offensive territory,” analyzed Anderson, once back in the locker room.

Indeed, the unit he formed with Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher was a constant threat. It was also her, through Gallagher, who opened the scoring in the first period.

A goalkeeper in the game

That said, there is no one in the Canadiens’ camp who has worked harder than Samuel Montembeault. Author of 43 saves, including one during a breakaway from Casey Mittelstadt, the Bécancourois greatly deserved the first star awarded to him.

“I like getting a lot of shots. It keeps me awake the whole game, said the masked man. Also, it’s been a while since I’ve played. [17 octobre, contre les Penguins de Pittsburgh], so that got me into it quickly. »

Among other moments of celebration, Kaiden Guhle’s first NHL goal is noteworthy. The defender unleashed a solid cannonball on reception.

Five attackers, same result

The Canadiens are desperate to get their massive attack going. Martin St-Louis tried to achieve this by bringing together five attackers on his first unit. The presence of Mike Hoffman, Cole Caufield, Sean Monahan, Nick Suzuki and Jonathan Drouin did not change anything. Bleached on three occasions, the Habs have only one goal on 24 power plays. This only net was scored 4 against 3, in overtime, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Skinner loves the Canadian

Jeff Skinner has always had a fair amount of success against the Canadiens, especially when he played for the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old forward continued that momentum by scoring the Sabers’ first goal. A nice maneuver at the expense of Kaiden Guhle set the table for a shot in the top corner. He now has 35 points, including 21 goals, in 36 games against the Canadiens.

Dvorak’s effort

Christian Dvorak had still not collected a point since the start of the season. He ended this scarcity by participating in the goal of Brendan Gallagher. Moreover, it was the effort he put in to get ahead of the young Owen Power and prevent a clearance from being refused that set the stage for this success. He was also in the front row, well posted in the enclave, during the winning net.

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Samuel Montembeault

The Canadian would never have come close to winning without the evening that Montembeault experienced The goalkeeper from Bécancour stopped 43 shots Several of these saves were not easy He sometimes had trouble controlling his returns and his defenders were not always able clean up in front of the net

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Mike Hoffman

Martin St-Louis does everything to give him a chance Stressing that he played with guts, he promotes him to the first line After a good start to the game, he fades He had a particularly difficult presence in the second period where, after a turnover in opposing zone, he received an unnecessary penalty on Dylan Cozens

First period

1-Mon: Brendan Gallagher (2) (Anderson, Dvorak)13:31

Penalties: Thompson (Buf) 0:22, Peterka (Buf) 3:13, Monahan (Mon) 7:27, Dach (Mon) 18:34

Second period

2-Buf: Jeff Skinner (1) (Tuch, Quinn)AN-0:31

Penalties: Hoffman (Mon) 5:57, Wideman (Mon) 13:13

Third period

3-Mon: Kaiden Guhle (1) (Savard, Caufield)6:51
4-Buf: Dylan Cozens (3) (Bryson, Pilut)12:54
5-Mon: Josh Anderson (3) (Savard)16:14

Penalties: Power (Buf) 3:11

Shoot to the net

Montreal 11 – 9 – 14 – 34 Buffalo 14 – 13 – 18 – 45

Guardians:

Mon: Samuel Montembeault (G, 2-1-0) Ox: Eric Comrie (P, 2-3-0)

Numerical advantages:

Mon: 0 in 3, Buf: 1 in 4

Referees:

Kelly Sutherland, Peter MacDougall

Linesmen:

Andrew Smith, David BriseBois

ASSISTANCE:

12,735