Dec 17, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) defends against Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Dylan Cozens (7)
Montreal Canadiens Goals: Joel Armia (5), Patrik Laine (4-PP, 5, 6), Juraj Slafkovsky (3), Josh Anderson (6)
Just 19 seconds after the opening faceoff, Montreal scored following Jake Evans’ shot that was slightly wide of the Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen’s net. The puck rebounded off the boards to give Joel Armia – with no defenders around him – the opportunity to score very early in this game. Then, after continuing to dominate offensively, the Canadiens scored again. Luckily for Buffalo, the goal call was reversed almost immediately as it was replayed and shown that the puck did not make its way inside the net. However, the visitors’ luck would run out after Montreal scored their second goal, this time a one-timer by Patrik Laine on the power play after a holding call on Zach Benson, giving the home team a 2-0 advantage. In the first five minutes of play, the shots unsurprisingly favored Montreal, 8-0.
The first period whittled down, of course, and the Sabres added another wasted power play to their resume this season as the first intermission horn echoed through Centre Bell.
Even though Dylan Cozens narrowed the gap to give the Sabres their first goal of the game with a nice wrister, the Canadiens answered right back with winger Juraj Slafkovsky’s goal. Would that be all in the second period? Of course not; this is Sabres hockey. Completely lacking discipline and obviously showing signs of frustration, Buffalo found themselves with a five-on-three penalty kill not once but twice. Guess who scored on both opportunities? If you guessed Laine, you guessed correctly. It does not take a mathematician to also realize that it was a hat trick and the Sabres dug themselves into an even deeper hole of a 5-1 deficit. Unfortunately, Montreal would score again before the final buzzer.
What can be said at this point? The Sabres continue to extend their losing streak and were 0-for-5 on the power play tonight.
Please refer to the sarcastic Tweet below:
That Pegula speech really got them going
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) December 18, 2024
