Canadiens visit Sabres in first March game

The Montreal Canadiens, and their white hot top line, visit the Buffalo Sabres at the on Saturday night.

Montreal is currently riding a nice little winning streak, after they stumbled into the 4 Nations Face-Off break. But with the rest, and perhaps a little bit of a chip on their shoulders (Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, for their 4 Nations snubs), the top trio is playing like a top trio. Juraj Slafkovsky is playing like a dog on a bone, and his size has been a difference maker for the line's success.

The Sabres meanwhile, are in the basement of the division with 53 points in 57 games, and there are rumours that JJ Peterka and Dylan Cozens are on the trade market. So, while the Sabres are the focus to beat for a big two points, I wouldn't be stunned if Kent Hughes has contacted Kevyn Adams on their availability. This should be an interesting game, in that the Sabres are expected to not do much, but the Habs know better than that.

St. Louis is running a tight ship, and if the Habs wish to push for a wildcard spot, and a playoff run, then every two points is crucial. The boys are playing well, and expectations in the dressing room are sky high, with anything less than a berth, deemed as underachieving. Suzuki and the Habs don't want to deal with losing another important roster player - Sean Monahan's trade was tough, and Tyler Toffoli's more of the same before him.

Simply put, the Canadiens need to focus on winning as much as possible, and establishing that standard heading into the Trade Deadline will go a long way in building confidence.

Onto the game

Before I start, I want to express my excitement to see Jakub Dobes back between the pipes, it's been a while. This is an important game for the Canadiens, they all are, but there are two points up for grabs right now. Dobes needs to be on his game, and he generally does his job well.

Through the first five minutes of the game, nothing real noteworthy has happened, and the Habs have the edge in shots - 2-1. Notably, Cole Caufield's next goal will establish a new career-high (29). Felix Potvin, who is calling the game on TVA, also mentioned that Patrik Laine has had success when shooting against Ukko Pekka Luukkonen.

At 06:22, the most significant thing to this point happened, Tage Thompson took a penalty for interference against Owen Beck. Juraj Slafkovsky hit Caufield with a pass that went right between his feet. Caufield is itching to put one in the net.

Nick Suzuki took a nice wrister from the top of the right faceoff circle, but Luukkonen was square to the shot. Then Emil Heineman got a perfect feed from Alex Newhook, but his shot was deflected by a skate. Montreal collected three shots on the power play, but the game remains scoreless.

Heineman skated into the zone just after the eight minute mark, and his shot attempt was blocked. But the pull back and release, paired with the shooters' mentality is a trait I appreciate about Heineman. Montreal needs goals, and Heineman loves to beat goalies with his wicked release.

With the period winding down, Alexandre Carrier took a hooking minor against Rasmus Dahlin. Montreal is sixth in the league on the penalty kill, so confidence is quite high heading into it.

Dobes made a nice save with the horn sounding, and there was a minor scrum afterwards, these teams don't seem fond of eachother. The best part about it is there is still 40 minutes to play, and these combattants will face off again on Monday night in Montreal.

Second Period

Buffalo opens the second period with 28 seconds remaining on their power play.

JJ Peterka beat Dobes with a wicked wrister, but he couldn't beat the post - and soon after Bowen Byram took a slashing penalty against Caufield. Caufield was racing with Byram to a loose puck. Just like the hockey gods scripted it - Caufield received a one-touch pass on his off wing, and he labelled it to the twine.

Nick Suzuki started the play with a nice feed to Laine, and then Laine put the puck on a platter for Caufield - who now has 29 goals. A career-high for the 5'8" sniper, and there are still 22 games remaining in the season after tonight's game. He has a fair chance to hit 40 if all goes well - that would require him to score 11 more goals down the stretch.

As of the five minute mark, the Canadiens lead the game 1-0, but the Sabres have the edge in shots - 12-10.

The Sabres hemmed Montreal in their zone, with a heavy forecheck. Jacob Bryson forced an uncharacteristic turnover against Jake Evans. Bryson spotted Alex Tuch in front of the net, and hit him with a quick pass. Tuch batted the puck in without dusting it off to tie the game - but Bryson did the heavy lifting on the play.

In typical fashion, the Canadiens are allowing a team below them in the standings to walk all over them. It's frustrating because this team is capable of playing much better than this. Right now, they are choosing not to for some weird reason. Jiri Kulich scores off a feed from captain Rasmus Dahlin to grab the lead 2-1.

Montreal is pushing, but the Sabres speed is giving the Habs some trouble; it is rather curious that this Sabres team has struggled so severely this season. The Sabres have some fantastic young players - Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich and Peterka have been noticeable.

Suzuki just missed on a goal, Luukkonen came across and robbed him with his pad of a sure goal. Just seconds before that Slafkovsky had a great opportunity in the slot. The Sabres bent, but they didn't break.

Laine's line looks frustrated tonight, both he and Beck have a shot on net, but nothing to show for it. Newhook has just been quiet overall so far - with no hits or shots registered after 10 minutes of ice time.

Hutson was up to his old tricks working the puck into Buffalo's zone, before spotting a wide open Christian Dvorak. Dvorak spotted Josh Anderson in the slot, and Anderson fired his 10th of the season past Luukkonen. It was a feel-good one for Anderson, who is most definitely not playing at 100% health, but still giving it hell.

Carrier is in the box, although if you look at the replay, the referee missed something. Carrier lifted Peterka's stick, and it hit Peterka in the face. Sabres to the power play in any event. The Sabres are 0-1 on the power play tonight, after taking four shots on their first outing.

With 16 seconds played on the man advantage, Peterka took a penalty for pushing aside a discarded stick. Caufield nearly beat Luukkonen, and Suzuki battled hard for the rebound - but came up short. The next minute and forty seconds at 4-on-4 should be fun to watch.

Hutson worked a little deception, slipping into the slot and firing a snapshot towards the net. The kid is more slippery than a freshly cleaned sheet of ice. Luukkonen has been the Sabres' best player, however, registering 16 saves on 18 shots.

With 3:10 on the clock, Laine broke in on a partial 2-on-1 with Suzuki, and chose to shoot, letting a quick wrister go. Wise decision, to uphold the collective team's threat as shooters. But another save for the Sabres.

Dobes got bumped with 35.2 on the clock by Beck Malenstyn, who has been a thorn in Dobes and Jayden Struble's side on more than one occasion tonight. Struble took an interference penalty for his troubles, and Malenstyn is off to the box for two minutes also.

Some more 4-on-4, and Hutson, Jake Evans, Newhook and Mike Matheson had the Sabres on their heels fast. Hutson passed the puck to Matheson, who fired a shot towards the net, and Newhook got his stick on it for his 12th of the season. With just three seconds on the clock, the Habs pull ahead 3-2.

Third Period

Hutson has two assists tonight, and to start the period he is showing off a bit of everything - all thanks to the confidence rising high tonight. His headfakes, and quick twitch have him making the Sabres look like house league players. What a special talent on the Habs blueline.

Three minutes in, and both sides have 20 shots apiece.

It's been a chippy game, with scrums after every stoppage, and the goalies have been fantastic. As of the 12 minute mark, the shots are 23-21 in Montreal's favour. The Sabres are pressing hard to tie the game, but Montreal's defence is cutting off passing lanes, and making key shot blocks.

Jordan Greenway (6'6", 231 pounds) and Arber Xhekaj (6'4", 240 pounds) got into it behind the net, and before they could get any punches, Greenway laid on Arber on the top of the net. The teams will play 4-on-4.

Tage Thompson of all people found himself in front of the net and received a nice feed, firing a one-touch shot at Dobes, who committed grand larceny on the 6-foot-7 Sabres star.

The third period has gone by quickly, as there are just five minutes left on the clock. Montreal is still holding onto a one-goal lead, and the Sabres are fighting tooth and nail for the equalizer.

Dobes has been brilliant between the pipes, and Jake Evans has been equally impressive. The game isn't over yet, but expect one of the two to earn one of the three stars for tonight.

Dvorak broke into the Sabres zone with an empty net, and passed the puck to Evans, who iced the game 4-2 with 1:38 on the clock.

Greenway decided to play villain shoving Dobes with 57 seconds left in the game. Cozens and Struble received offsetting minors. I expect he will answer for that on Monday night.

Habs win 4-2.