Sabres Start Fast, Hold Off Canadiens in 4-2 Win at Bell Centre
The Buffalo Sabres didn’t waste any time making their presence felt in Montreal. By the 22-minute mark, they had already built a 3-0 lead-an early burst that proved to be the difference in a 4-2 win over the Canadiens on Thursday night at the Bell Centre.
For the Habs, it was one of those nights where the scoreboard didn’t quite tell the whole story. Montreal outshot Buffalo 34-17, dictated long stretches of play, and created plenty of offensive pressure. But hockey doesn’t always reward the busier team, and this was a textbook case of a club getting outplayed but not outscored.
The Sabres capitalized on their chances with clinical efficiency, while Montreal couldn’t convert enough of their own. Whether it was missed opportunities, a hot goaltender on the other end, or just the hockey gods evening things out, the Canadiens found themselves on the wrong end of a game they arguably controlled.
And then there was a moment off the ice that caught some eyes: Canadiens owner Geoff Molson was seen post-game sharing an embrace with Marc Bergevin, the former Habs general manager who now serves as Buffalo’s associate GM. It’s a notable reunion, considering Molson dismissed Bergevin back in November 2021, not long after Montreal's run to the Stanley Cup Final.
At the time of the firing, the Canadiens were struggling with a 6-15-2 record. But judging by Thursday night’s interaction, whatever tension may have once existed between the two seems to have cooled-at least in public view.
On the ice, this was a reminder of how quickly games can swing in the NHL. The Canadiens did a lot right but still walked away empty-handed.
The Sabres? They made their early push count and leaned on it the rest of the way.