After their long holiday trip, the Canadiens were back at the Bell Centre tonight to take on the Buffalo Sabres.
Josh Anderson was feared to have suffered a serious injury in the last game… but in the end, #17 was able to play tonight. Once again, though, the club played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, with Jake Allen in net.
Tonight’s lineup
Tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Ovcod1crVL
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 4, 2024
On the Sabres side, we’ll be keeping an eye on Jeff Skinner, who’s used to putting on a show against the Habs.
Here’s the complete line-up for the visitors, with Montrealer Devon Levi in net.
How we’re looking tonight against the Habs.#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/79vYd3XKYF
– Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 4, 2024
In the opening minutes of the first period, Jayden Struble set the tone with a huge check on Peyton Krebs.
He hits hard, the Greek God.
Jayden Struble shows Peyton Krebs what he’s made of đ„ pic.twitter.com/ICIOzdyu2Y
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) January 5, 2024
A few minutes later, Jesse Ylönen came close to opening the scoring, only to be frustrated twice by Devon Levi.
A video replay was needed to confirm the save, but in the end, the goal was not awarded.
Great save(s) by Levi on Ylonen.
And then all hell breaks loose, Gallagher-style. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/XIMpFw4pYB
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 5, 2024
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The rest of the first period was fairly uneventful, so much so that after 20 minutes, the score was still 0-0.
Early in the second period, Joel Armia almost scored the Habs’ first goal at the Bell Centre in 2024, but the referees later ruled that there had been goaltender interference.
I’ve seen more blatant cases of interference… but hey. The score was still 0-0.
Armia’s goal call has been reversed for goalie interference #LetsGoBuffalo #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/pDUTxUlsMm
– Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) January 5, 2024
When I said earlier that we’d have to keep an eye on Jeff Skinner, who is the Canadiens’ bĂȘte noire, he proved it again in the second period.
First, he fed Casey Mittelstadt, who scored the game’s first goal. A goal scored on the power play.
The perfect opportunity to VOTEâŒïž#NHLAllStarVote Casey Mittelstadt#NHLAllStarVote Jeff Skinner#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/y33jd1XAXh
– Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 5, 2024
Then, Skinner remembered that he likes to score against the Tricolore. Taking advantage of another power play, the winger unleashed a good shot from a tight angle that doubled his team’s lead.
Again and again, Skinner has a blast against the Habs.
JEFF ON THE POWER PLAY! @JeffSkinner | #NHLAllStarVote pic.twitter.com/2v81kEiGCQ
– Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 5, 2024
Later in the second, as Michael Pezzetta took the club’s third penalty of the second period, another goal was scored.
However, this time it was the Habs who hit the target short-handed, as Joel Armia scored with an excellent shot. This time, the goal was not disallowed.
And the first home goal of 2024 goes to… Joel Armia!
And the first home goal of 2024 goes to… Joel Armia! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ZhvbiUfvKb
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 5, 2024
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After 40 minutes, the score was 2-1 to the Sabres.
The problem was, even though it was the Habs who needed to score, it was the Sabres who were dominant in the third period. A few minutes into the period, Jack Quinn found the back of the net.
He has now scored four goals in his last seven games.
Four goals in seven games for Jack Quinn. đ„#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/yvX2DF8eTa
– Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 5, 2024
Then, a few minutes later, Jeff Skinner made the Habs pay again with a point on his team’s fourth goal.
Tage Thompson was credited with the net.
Teamwork ÂŻ_(ă)_/ÂŻ#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/SY2JlDgXgX
– Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 5, 2024
Rasmus Dahlin scored his team’s fifth goal in an empty net, while Tage Thompson added a sixth (with Jake Allen between the pipes) to put the exclamation point on a convincing Sabres victory.
Not a game that will go down in Canadian history, let’s say.
Final score: 6-1 Buffalo
The Canadiens return to action on Saturday night, when the New York Rangers visit Montreal.
Overtime
– It was a tough game for the Canadiens’ power play and defense. Mike Matheson was particularly bad in his zone, and the brigade in general had a game to forget. Let’s hope it’s just a bad one in the system for the Tricolore, because even if Jake Allen wasn’t dominant, his defense was more than porous.
– Jeff Skinner is the Tricolore’s bĂȘte noire. In fact, he picked up a third assist late in the game, giving him 20 assists and 46 points in 41 games against the Tricolore.
A goal and two assists for Skinner.
That’s 26 goals, 19 assists and 45 points in 41 games against the #CH.
By far the most successful team he’s played against. #Habs– RaphaĂ«l Doucet (@raphdoucet) January 5, 2024
– Ouch.
With his probable loss tonight, Jake Allen has won just one of his last 10 starts (1-8-1).
– Alexandre Gascon (@GasconAlexandre) January 5, 2024
– Ouch (part 2).
#Habs Brendan Gallagher has gone 23 games without scoring a goal. #HabsIO
– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 5, 2024
– Devon Levi was extremely solid in front of the Sabres net, putting on a show with some sublime saves. He had said it was special for him to play in Montreal (he’s a native of the area), and clearly, it showed in his performance.
– The Molson Cup for December was awarded to Josh Anderson before the start of the game.
Well deserved, Josh!
Well deserved, Andy! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/6TsQltdmws
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 5, 2024