The Montreal Canadiens have earned a minimum of a degree in 5 of their previous six video games heading right into a Thursday street matchup in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres, however they might want to shake off a troublesome ending to their most up-to-date efficiency.
The Canadiens took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission on Tuesday at Washington. The Capitals’ Ethen Frank scored twice within the third interval, the second time with 1:54 left to tie the sport, and Connor McMichael scored with 39 seconds left in additional time to offer the hosts a 3-2 win.
“Anytime you are up two targets going into the third, you must be capable of win that hockey recreation,” Montreal ahead Brendan Gallagher mentioned.
The loss dropped the Canadiens to 4-1-1 of their previous six video games, however they continue to be in third place within the Atlantic Division. With simply two factors separating first via third within the division, giving up a late two-goal lead stung much more.
“It is all the time disappointing, it doesn’t matter what constructing you are in, whenever you’re up 2-0 after two (and do not win),” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis mentioned. “You are enjoying a superb recreation, even should you’re not doing something spectacular, and simply enjoying calculated, and also you lack a little bit of element within the third.”
The Canadiens went 0-for-4 on the facility play, together with a 5-on-3 that coated 1:04 of the second interval, holding the Capitals inside placing distance coming into the third.
“We’ve got good gamers on the market,” St. Louis mentioned of his particular groups. “They did what they may. It is unlucky that we could not put the puck within the web there, and often in 5-on-3s, should you rating … you are going to win the sport, and we simply did not rating.”
Sam Montembeault made 39 saves for Montreal, however he took his first loss in 4 begins since finishing a conditioning stint within the AHL.
Josh Anderson returned in opposition to Washington after lacking six video games with an upper-body damage, and the ahead scored short-handed for the primary objective of the sport.
The Sabres gained for the 14th time of their previous 16 video games on Wednesday, beating the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 5-2.
The end result moved Buffalo into the primary wild-card spot from the East, from sixth to fourth within the Atlantic Division and inside 5 factors of the Canadiens for third. Buffalo additionally has two video games in hand on Montreal.
The Sabres scored their 5 targets in opposition to the Flyers on simply 14 photographs, their greatest capturing proportion in a recreation since 1988.
Two of the targets got here from Rasmus Dahlin on the facility play, making him the primary Buffalo defenseman with a number of power-play targets in a recreation since Rasmus Ristolainen managed the feat on Dec. 10, 2015.
“Being a shoot-first man tonight helped,” Sabres ahead Josh Doan mentioned of Dahlin, the crew captain.
Buffalo ahead Josh Norris left within the second interval with an upper-body damage and didn’t return.
“We’ll carry him within the morning, consider him and decide,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff mentioned of Norris.
Norris sustained an upper-body damage within the crew’s season opener and missed the subsequent 24 video games.
The Canadiens gained the primary assembly of the season in opposition to the Sabres on Oct. 20, getting 30 saves from Jakub Dobes in a 4-2 residence victory.
After Thursday, Buffalo and Montreal will meet two extra occasions this month.
–Subject Stage Media
