Well, what can I say about this one? Five unanswered goals in the third period is unacceptable. Montreal just plain flexed their muscles in the third period of last night’s game to pound Buffalo, 7-2.
Is there anyone to blame for this game, yes. EVERYONE. The first two periods Buffalo played very well and was able to keep pace with Montreal by matching speed for speed. But the Habs just showed us why they were 7-0 going into the game in the third. Costly penalties and mental mistakes were two big reasons why the Sabres lost.
I thought Buffalo played very well offensively, putting 36 shots on Montreal’s backup goaltender Mike Condon. However, Condon was outstanding in the game by making 34 saves.
Buffalo’s offense has been playing very well so far this season. The games where they will score more than two goals are still coming. We just need to wait for the lines to start meshing.
Defensively, well, the only positive you can take from it was that face Montreal only generated 26 shots. But the two bad penalties and mental mistakes made the defensive play a lot worse than it looked. If Ennis’ roughing and Gorges interference penalties don’t happen, this could be a different game.
While I usually don’t blame the goaltender for a team’s loss, this is one night where Chad Johnson just had trouble making saves. Montreal had 26 shots and seven goals, a game no goalie wants to go up against.
Three of the goals that Montreal scored are ones that Johnson should’ve made the saves on. Gallagher’s first is a result of Johnson failing to keep his left pad on the post, allowing Gallagher to poke the puck in the net. One his second goal, Johnson needed to stay along the right post so Gallagher can’t roof a shot, which he did. On Markov’s goal, Johnson was not screened and the puck was not deflected. Johnson had a clear look at Markov shooting and just plain missed making the save.
These are the kind of goals that Chad Johnson needs to make the save on in order to keep his team in every game as long as he is the starter. Buffalo is back in action tonight against the New Jersey Devils with Linus Ullmark likely getting the start, although we don’t have confirmation on that. If he does it will be his NHL debut. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.