The Buffalo Sabres keep finding the same uncomfortable path: dig a hole, claw back, and hope overtime bails them out. That formula worked again in Montreal for a while, but it didn’t hold. Cole Caufield ended Saturday night’s game 54 seconds into overtime, and the Canadiens walked away with a 4-3 win after Buffalo had forced extra time.
It was the same kind of game these two teams played earlier in the week, when the Sabres dropped a shootout to Montreal on Tuesday. This time, Buffalo looked in trouble for stretches, then came roaring back to make it a one-point night. The issue is that the Sabres can’t keep turning survival mode into a habit.
There were still reasons for Buffalo to feel good about a few key names. Jack Quinn continues to look dangerous and scored a shorthanded goal.
Josh Doan set up Tage Thompson’s game-tying goal, and Josh Norris scored against Montreal for the second straight meeting. Those are important signs for a team still trying to get a few pieces fully going.
Even with the slow starts, the Sabres remain tricky because of how they can hurt teams at five-on-five. They have the kind of forward depth that can overwhelm you, and they can also lean on some of the strongest two-way defensemen in the game.
When more of that group is clicking, Buffalo is going to be even harder to handle. That said, the injuries they’re dealing with also mean this team will look different once it gets healthier.
The bigger concern is the special teams mess. The power play has already drawn plenty of criticism, but the penalty kill deserves just as much scrutiny.
Buffalo gave up a power-play goal to Montreal and is now sitting at a 64.5% kill rate, which ranks 30th in the NHL. That’s a steep drop from a unit that was among the league’s best a season ago.
The absence of Alex Tuch is being felt, and the injuries don’t help, but the penalty kill simply doesn’t look as sharp or as coordinated as it did last year. That kind of production at the bottom of the league can wreck a season if it doesn’t change fast.
Buffalo has now pulled off these comeback acts in three straight games, falling behind by a wide margin and still managing to grab at least a point. Those points count, especially in divisional games.
But that style comes with a warning label. Late rallies don’t last forever, and the Sabres are leaning on them too heavily.
Goaltending is still worth watching, but this wasn’t just about the crease. Buffalo’s own-zone breakdowns, especially around the net, are costing them too much. The Sabres are still hanging around in the standings, but if they keep taking so long to get into games, more regulation losses are coming.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Just Gave Canadiens Fans A Reason To Revisit This Dream
Dylan Larkins name still has a way of lighting up the Bell Centre, and a recent visit by the Red Wings captain only fed that old Canadiens daydream a little more. Montreal fans gave him a notable reception, the kind that reminds everyone how easily a big-name center can become part of the citys ongoing wish list, especially when the organization is always looking for ways to upgrade down the middle.
Larkin didnt exactly pour cold water on the whole scene, either, praising the atmosphere in Montreal and calling it one of hockeys best arenas. Even so, the practical side of the story has not changed much, with Montreal not currently listed among the 10 teams on his reported trade request list and no deal anywhere near confirmed. For now, it is still more reminder than resolution, but it was enough to make Canadiens fans revisit a dream they know well. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Came Shockingly Close To A Franchise What-If With Brett Hull
Brett Hull recently reopened one of the more fascinating what-ifs in Canadiens history, saying he was very close to signing with Montreal in 2001 before ending up in Detroit instead. The timing alone makes it intriguing for Canadiens fans, since Hull was still a proven scorer with a chance to alter the direction of the franchise, even if landing him would not have guaranteed instant contention.
On a podcast, Hull recounted the kind of recruiting pitch that makes these stories linger, including a conversation with Canadiens icon Jean Bliveau as Montreal tried to make its case. What tipped the balance away from the Canadiens was a late push from Detroit, and Hull wound up with the Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002 instead of becoming part of a very different Montreal chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Costly Dylan Larkin Decision With No Easy Answer
Any conversation about Dylan Larkin and Montreal quickly runs into the same hard question: what is the price, and is it worth paying? The discussion centers on a hypothetical framework that would send multiple assets to Detroit, with salary-cap realities looming over the Canadiens side of the equation. No official offer has been made, no deal has been confirmed, and for now it remains exactly what it is - a scenario being weighed more than a negotiation taking shape.
The biggest obstacle in that kind of proposal is Michael Hage, the prospect Detroit would reportedly want first if talks ever moved beyond the speculative stage. That alone makes the exercise delicate for Montreal, which has to decide how much future value it is willing to sacrifice for immediate help. And even before the Canadiens get to that internal debate, there is still another hurdle in the background: Pierre LeBrun has reported that Larkin has not added Montreal to his list of approved destinations. [Read more 🡒]