The Montreal Canadiens entered the game on a hot streak, coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, winning three straight games. They headed to Buffalo for their fourth game since that break, where they held a five-game win streak against the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center. Montreal found a way to win, extending their streak, and now sit three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Wild Card spot for the playoffs.
Jakub Dobes had his first start in three weeks. His last win was on Jan. 19 against the New York Rangers, and he was facing the Sabres number one goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who played two days prior against the Carolina Hurricanes but was pulled after giving up three goals on the first seven shots. Luukkonen was looking to redeem himself. He allowed three goals on 28 shots, and several were difficult, point-blank saves. He did everything he could to give his team a chance to win.
While the Canadiens ended up with the victory, there were some high points for Buffalo. The Dylan Cozens line was dominant against the Canadiens, who had no answer to their size, speed and strength. That line had a goal and a 75% Corsi for percentage (CF%). However, the Canadiens were able to find a way to win and extend their winning streak in Buffalo to six games.
Game Recap
Lane Hutson was the offensive catalyst for Montreal all night. The rookie defender leads all rookies in points, and it is clear why. His vision, hands, dogged pursuit of the puck, and fearlessness to make plays when he has possession are fun to watch. On the Sabres’ side, Rasmus Dahlin lives up to his first overall billing as he plays many minutes, can dominate physically, and is also an offensive catalyst.
Buffalo’s cycle game, which was only able to get installed sporadically, left the Canadiens scrambling and confused when it was. And the Sabres put a lot of pressure on Montreal in the final few minutes of the opening frame, forcing Dobes to make a point-blank save after Jiri Kulich was left alone in the slot. This led to the Sabres getting a power play that Montreal was able to kill off.
The offense for both teams woke up in the second period, with five goals scored between the two clubs. Early in the second, Dobes was able to get a piece of a hard Dahlin shot, but Montreal was awarded a power play after Cole Caufield’s stick was slashed out of his hands. Then, after a strong defensive play by Jordan Greenway to block a shot, they got a chance to score while shorthanded, and Lane Hutson was able to break up that play and move the puck quickly up ice to allow a three-on-two that Caufield converted for a power-play goal (his 20th goal on the road this season) on a pass from Patrik Laine. That gives him 29 goals, a new career high.
Buff-allô Cole
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 2, 2025
Cold outside, Cole inside #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/D3ySZpp2On
Five minutes later, Alex Tuch buried a one-timer to tie it up at one a piece. But it was the 45 seconds leading up to that goal, where the Sabres out-battled the Canadiens’ fourth line, generating a cycle that Montreal couldn’t solve that gave him that opportunity. And only 90 seconds later, Kulich gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead as the Sabres’ attack benefitted from another positional error by the Canadiens forwards.
The Sabres dominated the first 10 minutes of the middle frame, as they controlled the majority of puck possession, with over 78% of Corsi for, and four of their first five shots were clear scoring chances. Montreal simply had no answer for stopping the Sabres from attacking the slot or setting up their cycle game. It was at this point that the Canadiens’ top line decided to inspire the team by playing a dominant shift, which seemed to wake up the Montreal side as they turned the tables on puck possession, scoring two more goals to finish the period. Josh Anderson buried a goal after another Hutson rush and another, with only seconds left in the period where Alex Newhook tipped a Mike Matheson slap pass while the teams were at four on four.
The third period saw Buffalo, led by Cozens’ line, dominate puck possession. However, solid defensive plays by the Canadiens’ blue line, especially Jayden Struble, and Dobes settling in and stopping everything thrown at him ensured that Montreal got the win. Buffalo pulled Luukkonen with over two minutes left; however, they were unable to find a way to beat Dobes, and then Jake Evans scored an empty net goal on a two-on-one with Christian Dvorak to stretch the Canadiens lead to 4-2 with 98 seconds remaining to ensure the win.
With the NHL Trade Deadline coming up in a week, both fanbases are watching what could be the final games for several players. For Buffalo, will Cozens or Bowen Byram be dealt? For Montreal, it is possible this was the last time the Canadiens’ top penalty-killing unit was led by Jake Evans and Joel Armia. For Buffalo, rumours are still swirling about several of their young players. The next game for both teams will be Monday, March 3 in Montreal as the teams play the second half of a back-to-back.
