(Buffalo) The Canadian fought a good battle against the Buffalo Sabers and the Montreal team offered themselves their first victory on the road this season.
Posted at 9:42 p.m.
Updated at 10:05 p.m.
Josh Anderson hit the target with 3:46 left in the third period and the Habs beat the Sabers 3-2 Thursday at KeyBank Center.
Anderson had just been robbed of a certain goal by Eric Comrie, when he fired another one-timer. This time, the puck ended up in the back of the net.
Samuel Montembeault was the other star of the game for the Canadian. He made 43 saves.
Brendan Gallagher and Kaiden Guhle, with his first NHL goal, also moved the ropes for the Canadiens (4-4-0), which ended a two-game losing streak. David Savard has accumulated two assists.
Jeff Skinner and Dylan Cozens replied for the Sabers (4-3-0). Comrie stopped 31 pitches.
The Canadiens will play their next Saturday, when they visit the St. Louis Blues.
The last word at CH
The Canadian found himself twice on the power play at the start of the game, but he was unable to take advantage of it.
In turn on the power play, the Sabers were a little more threatening. Jake Evans came to Montembeault’s rescue after the puck deflected off Guhle’s skate.
Montembeault had to be alert to also stop Victor Olofsson’s numerous attempts from the face-off spot to his left.
The Canadian finally opened the scoring on a lucky play with 6:29 to go in the first period. Comrie stopped Gallagher’s initial shot, but the puck then hit defenseman Owen Power’s skate before landing in the goal.
The Sabers replied after just 31 seconds into the second period, on the power play. Skinner collected a bouncing puck in the crease, then beat Montembeault with a perfect shot into the top of the net.
This goal gave a boost to the Sabers, who bottled the Canadian in his territory for long moments during the second period.
However, it was the Habs who came closest to scoring before the end of the second frame. Sean Monahan, however, reached the post in a two-on-one attack shorthanded.
The Sabers also knocked on the door shorthanded early in the third period. Montembeault, however, frustrated Casey Mittelstadt.
Guhle gave the Habs the lead after 6:51 of play in the final period. He hit the mark with a powerful one-timer throw.
Cozens brought everyone back to square one 6:03 later. His wrist shot surprised Montembeault on the side of the mitt.
Anderson finally put the Canadian ahead for good moments later.
Montembeault stopped a dangerous last shot from Rasmus Dahlin in the final moments of the game.