Torrey Mitchell broke a 2-2 tie with just under seven minutes left in the game and the Canadiens held on to beat the Sabres 3-2 Thursday night in Quebec.
Robin Lehner made the save on Mark Barberio’s original shot but couldn’t contain the rebound. Mitchell found the puck on his stick and rifled one past the Sabres goaltender.
Buffalo had an extended chance at the end of the game after pulling Lehner, but couldn’t put one past Mike Condon. Condon finished with 36 saves, tying his 3rd highest output of the year.
Alex Galchenyuk scored the first two goals for Montreal en route to 1st star of the game honors. His first came just nine seconds after Nic Deslauriers opened up the scoring for Buffalo. The latter came in the final minute of the 2nd period with Montreal on the power play after a desperation dive from PK Subban to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
Subban was carted off the ice on a stretcher late in the 3rd period after he took a shot to the head from a collision with teammate Alexei Emelin. He gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he left.
Deslauriers and captain Brian Gionta were the goal scorers for Buffalo. Deslauriers deflected a Jake McCabe shot from the point to give Buffalo the brief 1-0 advantage midway through the 2nd period. Gionta found the net just after a Buffalo power play expired, redirecting the original shot from Evander Kane.
Robin Lehner rebounded from one of his worst performances of the year with a solid but unspectacular showing in net. He held Buffalo in the game for the long haul but once again, they couldn’t come out with a W.
The Sabres are back in Buffalo Saturday afternoon to take on the Hurricanes. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 pm.