Sabres Weather the Bell Centre Storm, Beat Canadiens with Grit, Poise, and Timely Goals
MONTREAL - The Bell Centre was buzzing, the Canadiens were surging, and the Sabres were on their heels. But when Nick Suzuki buried a rebound midway through the second period to cut Buffalo’s lead to 3-2, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff didn’t reach for the whiteboard. He reached for the moment.
“I’ve seen it in this building where they score one, they score another one within 30 seconds,” Ruff said postgame. “So really, part of that was buying time and trying to get the crowd out of it.”
That’s the kind of veteran coaching move that doesn’t always show up in the box score but can shift the tide of a game. Ruff’s timeout wasn’t about systems or matchups.
It was about resetting his team emotionally and mentally. His message was simple: trust who we are.
“I just told them we’re a real good team,” Ruff said. “Support each other, get back, make sure our defensemen have their outs, and just get back to playing our game. That was their push - now let’s answer it.”
And answer it they did.
After giving up seven high-danger chances in the second period, Buffalo locked it down in the third, allowing just one more quality look. It wasn’t a perfect game - far from it - but it was the kind of gritty, playoff-style road win that good teams find a way to pull off. Peyton Krebs sealed it with an empty-netter, his fourth of the season in that situation, and the Sabres walked out with a 4-2 win.
A Fast Start, a Chaotic Middle, and a Composed Finish
This one started like a track meet and ended like a chess match. Jason Zucker got Buffalo on the board just 44 seconds in, finishing off a slick setup from Jack Quinn.
Then came Beck Malenstyn with the kind of short-handed goal that turns heads - a solo effort that was all hustle, edge work, and finish. Zach Benson added a gritty goal at the net front early in the second to make it 3-0.
That cushion? The Sabres needed every inch of it.
Montreal pushed hard in the second, feeding off the crowd and momentum. But Buffalo didn’t break. And in a season where they’ve often let teams back into games, this time they responded with poise and structure.
“There’s been some games where we’re just fighting to survive,” said defenseman Bowen Byram, who logged over 27 minutes. “Sometimes that’s how you’ve got to win. Not all of them are going to be perfect.”
Byram knows what it takes to win when the stakes are high - he’s got a Stanley Cup ring from his time in Colorado. And he sees a team in Buffalo that’s learning how to rise to the moment.
“It’s a lot of fun when you’re playing for something bigger than yourself,” Byram said. “These games against Montreal, and the one next week - those are four-point games in our division. We’re chasing them down.”
Playoff Atmosphere in January
This wasn’t just another regular-season game. The Bell Centre was sold out, loud, and electric - the kind of environment that feels like April hockey. And Buffalo embraced it.
“Coming into a sold-out Bell Centre is as close to a playoff game as you’re going to get in the regular season,” Malenstyn said. “Their fans are incredible.
When they get momentum, it’s a hostile environment. It’s a great lesson for us in managing momentum.”
That lesson could prove valuable down the stretch.
The Sabres have now won 17 of their last 21 games and are 10-2 in their last 12 on the road. They’ve climbed within two points of Montreal for third in the Atlantic Division - and they’ve got a game in hand.
With 61 points through 50 games, they’re on pace for a 100-point season. But there’s no room to exhale.
“Hopefully we can stay on that path and find ourselves in a playoff spot when all the dust settles,” Malenstyn said. “Every team that gets in coming out of the East is going to be extremely well-prepared just based on how hard it was to get there.”
Luukkonen Holds the Line, Again
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen continues to be a steadying presence. He stopped 32 of 34 shots, including six high-danger chances, and was particularly sharp during Montreal’s second-period surge. He’s now 7-2-1 in his last 10 starts.
“It’s fun to come into this building and take points away,” Luukkonen said with a grin.
Injuries Mount, Depth Tested
Buffalo’s blue line took another hit Thursday night. Jacob Bryson left the game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss time, according to Ruff. That opened the door for Michael Kesselring, who returned to the lineup and logged just over 12 minutes despite still managing pain in his ankle.
“It’s tough with hockey,” Kesselring said. “I take a hit and it feels like I go back a week. I just wanted to get back to around 90 percent before playing again.”
Zach Benson also took an elbow to the face late in the game but remained on the bench. And Rasmus Dahlin blocked a heavy shot from Ivan Demidov in the final minutes and was clearly in discomfort, clutching his left arm area on the bench. Those are situations to watch as Buffalo’s defensive depth continues to be tested.
What’s Next
The Sabres and Canadiens will run it back in nine days, and the stakes could be even higher. These are the kinds of games that shape playoff races - and playoff teams.
Buffalo is learning how to win ugly, how to win on the road, and how to win when the pressure ratchets up. That’s a good sign for a team that’s starting to believe it belongs in the postseason conversation.
And if they keep finding ways to grind out wins like this one, they won’t just be in the conversation - they’ll be in the dance.