The fans present at the Bell Center on Tuesday got their money’s worth, as Patrik Laine put on quite a show in a 6-1 victory for the Montreal Canadiens against the Buffalo Sabres.
The Finnish star scored his first hat trick in his seventh game with the team. Laine was initially frustrated in the first period when his goal was disallowed because the puck never entered the net.
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However, he recovered, scoring his three goals on the power play, beating goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with three real cannonballs. The spectators in the Montreal den also gave Laine a huge ovation after his third success.
He thus became the first CH player to achieve such a feat since Tomas Plekanec on February 29, 2008 during a duel against…the Sabres. With six goals since the start of the campaign, Laine is already fourth among the club’s scorers, tied with Alex Newhook and Emil Heineman.
However, number 92 is not the only one to have participated in the party. Juraj Slafkovsky, who is having a difficult time these days, scored a goal and an assist. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson all had two assists.
The Habs support players also had their good moments in the match. Joel Armia opened the scoring 19 seconds into the first period, while Josh Anderson made the red light shine at the end of the second period. The latter has two goals in his last two matches.
As for the Sabres, only Dylan Cozens managed to beat Samuel Montembeault. The Canadian goalkeeper made 20 saves in his team’s victory.
With this defeat, the Buffalo team (11-17-4) has now lost its last 11 outings, and languishes in the very last place in the Atlantic section with 26 points. The Habs (12-16-3) are seventh with 27 points.
Martin St-Louis’ men will take the lead again against the Red Wings in Detroit on Friday evening.
SUMMARY
THIRD PERIOD
16:34 | Dennis Gilbert (BUF) is punished for tripping
14:05 | Samuel Montembeault (MTL) stops an offering from Dylan Cozens (BUF)
11:25 | Arber Xhekaj (MTL) goes with a shot stopped by James Reimer (BUF)
7:58 | Alex Newhook (MTL) misses a great opportunity during a surplus
7:03 | Patrik Laine (MTL) goes for a leaping shot that gives James Reimer (BUF) a hard time
6:35 | Nick Suzuki (MTL) clears the puck to the applause of the crowd as the CH resists a long Sabers power play
4:34 | Joel Armia (MTL) is punished for hanging
3:26 | Lane Hutson (MTL) is punished for double-checking
2:44 | James Reimer (BUF) stops an offering from Kirby Dach (MTL)
0:00 | Start of the third period
SECOND PERIOD
19:15 | GOAL – Josh Anderson (MTL) jumps on a loose puck at the mouth of the net and it’s 6-1
17:14 | Samuel Montembeault (MTL) holds his own against a shot from Alex Tuch (BUF)
14:00 | Alex Newhook (MTL) checks Dylan Cozens (BUF)
12:04 | Kaiden Guhle (MTL) blocks a shot from JJ Peterka (BUF)
10:55 | GOAL – Patrik Laine (MTL) completes his hat trick with another devastating strike!
10:11 | Dylan Cozens (BUF) is punished for sending the puck into the stands
9:45 | GOAL – Patrik Laine (MTL) scores again on the power play, again with the help of a powerful shot
9:30 | Alex Tuch (BUF) is punished for high stick
8:50 | Patrik Laine (MTL) attempts a shot, Dennis Gilbert (BUF) courageously blocks it
8:05 | Bowen Byram (BUF) is punished for caning
5:05 | GOAL – Juraj Slafkovsky (MTL) shoots from behind the net and it works, it’s 3-1
3:43 | GOAL – Dylan Cozens (BUF) takes advantage of the screen provided by David Savard (MTL) and his shot beats Samuel Montembeault (MTL)
1:58 | Jason Zucker and Ryan McLeod (BUF) take turns against Samuel Montembeault (MTL)
0:00 | Start of the second period
FIRST PERIOD
19:30 | Good play from Bowen Byram (BUF) who stops a number led by Brendan Gallagher and Christian Dvorak (MTL)
16:47 | Brendan Gallagher (MTL) narrowly misses the target during a great offensive charge
15:48 | Emil Heineman (MTL) se Bute à Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF)
14:10 | Kaiden Guhle (MTL) interposes and stops a shot by Jiri Kulich (BUF)
13:10 | Samuel Montembeault (MTL) makes a good save in front of Zach Benson (BUF)
12:15 | David Savard (MTL) is punished for tripping
11:30 | Mike Matheson (MTL) goes for a shot from the point of support, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF) holds on
10:05 | Samuel Montembeault (MTL) makes a big save in the lower half. digital ahead of Alex Tuch (BUF)
9:35 | Mattias Samuelsson (BUF) is punished for obstruction after hitting Kirby Dach (MTL), who is also in pain
8:15 | Arber Xhekaj (MTL) is hit hard by Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (BUF) and returns to the bench in pain
6:26 | GOAL – This time it’s good! Patrik Laine (MTL) scores with a quick shot after receiving a nice pass from Nick Suzuki (MTL) in front. digital
6:06 | Zach Benson (BUF) is punished for holding
5:09 | Patrik Laine (MTL) sends a shot to the post, but the puck seems to go into the goal, everyone gets excited, then the officials confirm that there is no goal
4:50 | Lane Hutson (MTL) sends the puck directly in front of his net, the Sabers cannot take advantage
2:15 | Josh Anderson (MTL) sends a shot off the post to the left of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF)
0:19 | GOAL – Joel Armia (MTL) jumps on a throw return and scores in an abandoned cage
0:00 | Start of the match
PREMATCH
The Montreal team will try to stop a streak of two losses. She will also want to return to the hearts of her supporters. We will remember that last Thursday, during the 9-2 thaw suffered at the hands of the Penguins, Martin St-Louis’ troops had to play and leave the ice rink to the boos of the crowd.
“We had our own ups and downs,” said Cole Caufield. We have to focus on us. It’s a big game for our team. We want to win for the fans too. »
In the opposing camp, the situation is much more embarrassing. Buffalo has lost its last 10 meetings and hasn’t won since November 23. Things are so bad in their camp that Terry Pegula, the owner of the team, moved to Montreal.
“I almost have no words left […] “It’s the most difficult situation I’ve ever been through,” said head coach Lindy Ruff after her team’s loss on Sunday evening in Toronto.
To be stifled from the start
Yet Ruff has seen others. We’re talking about the fourth most experienced head coach in NHL history. He has 1,805 games behind an NHL bench, including 1,196 with the Sabres. Moreover, the 64-year-old has just returned to the Sabres, after stays in New Jersey and Dallas.
“We know the situation they come into here. “It’s a desperate team,” said Alex Newhook. When you go through times like these, you cling to every last particle of hope. The important thing will be not to give them a single breath of life and to gain momentum quickly in the match. »
If the past is any guide to the future, we must expect several goals. On November 11 at the KeyBank Center, the Habs escaped with a 7 to 5 triumph. Also, the clubs present are not examples to follow in defense, having conceded at least 100 goals each.
Martin St-Louis will once again rely on goalkeeper Samuel Montembeault. This will be a seventh consecutive start for the masked man from Bécancour.
On the blue line, Jayden Struble will once again be left out. Justin Barron will put on his uniform for the fourth game in a row. This is his longest streak since his consecutive curtain-raisers of the season.
“He’s starting to find a balance. We try to give him consecutive matches so that he can gain confidence and better consistency, mentioned Martin St-Louis. He has great offensive qualities. He must continue to work on his defensive actions. To get that, it takes consecutive matches. »
– With the collaboration of Jonathan Bernier
