BUFFALO — The Canadiens kept their flagging playoff hopes alive by defeating the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 Thursday night in what was a must-win game for both teams. After a slow start, the Canadiens scored two goals early in the second period and then relied on a solid defensive effort that limited the Sabres to 10 shots over the final two periods.
The win gave the Canadiens 53 points and a two-point edge over the Sabres. They are only eight points out of a playoff spot, but there’s a huge asterisk attached to their position. They are eight points behind Florida in the battle for third place in the Atlantic Division, but the Panthers have three games in hand. Montreal is also eight points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but Carolina enjoys two games in hand.
The Canadiens built some momentum in the latter stages of the first period and they were rewarded when Ilya Kovalchuk and Brendan Gallagher scored goals early in the second period to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead.
Kovalchuk moved from the right wing to the left and had some new linemates, but he had no problems adjusting. Joel Armia controlled the puck behind the net on the first Montreal goal and found Nick Suzuki in front. The rookie dropped the puck off for Kovalchuk, who showed why he has been an elite goal-scorer throughout his career. He lifted the puck to the far top corner on Carter Hutton. It was his fifth goal as a Canadien and he has nine points in 10 games.
Gallagher, who returned to the lineup after missing 10 of the past 11 games with a concussion, converted a cross-ice pass from Tomas Tatar. Gallagher faked a shot on Hutton and then went to his backhand for his 16th goal.
Tatar completed the scoring with an empty-net goal.
For a team that is supposed to be playing with desperation, the Canadiens couldn’t have had a slower start. Montreal didn’t get a shot on goal until Kovalchuk tested Hutton at 10:29 of the first period. The Sabres had nine shots on goal at that point and had a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Jack Eichel.
Eichel, who was the consolation prize in the 2015 draft that saw Connor McDavid go to Edmonton, has developed into one of the top players in the NHL and the goal was his 30th of the season. Carey Price was square to the puck, but Eichel waited for the goaltender to make the first move and scored with a perfect shot over Price’s right leg.
Montreal was fortunate to trail by only a goal after the first period. Jeff Skinner had an opening on a 2-on-1 break, but he hit the crossbar.
The Canadiens have a day off Friday and will return to the Bell Centre for the traditional Super Bowl weekend matinees. They play the Florida Panthers Saturday and the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday.
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