The Montreal Canadiens needed to walk out of the Bell Centre with a win last night, but it was the Buffalo Sabres who seemed to be more eager to find the game’s first goal, able to get some pressure around Carey Price on a few shifts early.
Despite the Habs getting up to speed in short order and starting to control the play, the Sabres did indeed find the first goal. With the shots 9-4 in Montreal’s favour, a transition back to the Habs’ zone ended with Sam Reinhart depositing the puck behind Price and quieting a home crowd nervous about its team’s playoff chances.