GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MONTREAL (12-9) at BUFFALO (8-11)

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 1
BUFFALO 2 16:07 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 2
BUFFALO 2
3RD PRD: MON - TOMAS PLEKANEC 7 (ANDREI KOSTITSYN) 4:56</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 2
BUFFALO 2 13:35 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 2
BUFFALO 2 11:07 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 2
BUFFALO 3
3RD PRD: BUF - (PP) THOMAS VANEK 5 (NATHAN PAETSCH, JASON POMINVILLE)
11:27</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 2
BUFFALO 3 6:50 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 2
BUFFALO 4
3RD PRD: BUF - (EN) DANIEL PAILLE 5 (MAXIM AFINOGENOV) 19:46</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MONTREAL 0 1 1 2
BUFFALO 1 1 2 4 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: BUF - (PP) DEREK ROY 8 (MAXIM AFINOGENOV, JASON POMINVILLE)
8:56
2ND PRD: BUF - TIM CONNOLLY 2 (BRIAN CAMPBELL, PAUL GAUSTAD) 7:39
MON - (PP) CHRIS HIGGINS 9 (MARK STREIT, SAKU KOIVU) 9:45
3RD PRD: MON - TOMAS PLEKANEC 7 (ANDREI KOSTITSYN) 4:56
BUF - (PP) THOMAS VANEK 5 (NATHAN PAETSCH, JASON POMINVILLE)
11:27
BUF - (EN) DANIEL PAILLE 5 (MAXIM AFINOGENOV, TIM CONNOLLY)
19:46

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: MON - 1 OF 6, BUF - 2 OF 3.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MON 12 10 10 32
BUF 9 13 10 32

GOALIES: MON - CAREY PRICE
BUF - RYAN MILLER

OFFICIALS: REF - DAN MAROUELLI, GREG KIMMERLY
LIN - DAVID BRISEBOIS, MICHEL CORMIER

ATT: 18,690</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Montreal 0 1 1 --2
Buffalo 1 1 2 --4
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Derek Roy 8 (power play) (Maxim
Afinogenov, Jason Pominville), 8:56. Penalties: M Ryan, Buf
(holding), 3:33; T Kostopoulos, Mon (slashing), 7:36; H Tallinder, Buf
(double minor high sticking), 9:41; T Vanek, Buf (slashing), 18:16.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Buffalo, Tim Connolly 2 (Brian Campbell,
Paul Gaustad), 7:39. 3, Montreal, Chris Higgins 9 (power play) (Mark
Streit, Saku Koivu), 9:45. Penalties: A Kovalev, Mon (slashing),
5:26; A Kotalik, Buf (tripping), 9:26.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 7 (Andrei
Kostitsyn), 4:56. 5, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 5 (power play) (Nathan
Paetsch, Jason Pominville), 11:27. 6, Buffalo, Daniel Paille 5 (empty
net) (Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly), 19:46. Penalties: M
Afinogenov, Buf (hooking), 5:06; M Komisarek, Mon (tripping), 10:11.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Montreal 12 10 10 --32
Buffalo 9 13 10 --32
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 6, Buffalo - 2 of 3. Goalies :
Montreal, Carey Price (31 shots, 28 saves; record: 5-2-1). Buffalo,
Ryan Miller (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 8-9-1). A: 18,690. Referees:
Dan Marouelli, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: David Brisebois, Michel
Cormier.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MONTREAL 2
BUFFALO 4</div>

 

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Sabres are regainingtheir form at the expense of the Montreal Canadiens.

Thomas Vanek scored the eventual game-winning goal and RyanMiller made 30 saves as the Sabres defeated the Canadiens, 4-2,on Friday.


Buffalo won for the third straight time, defeating Montrealtwice in the process. The teams close out a home-and-homeseries in Bell Centre on Saturday.


Vanek's power-play goal with 8:33 remaining in the third periodgave Buffalo a 3-2 lead. Vanek snapped a seven-game goal-lessdrought by backhanding his own rebound past Montreal rookiegoaltender Carey Price. It was Buffalo's second power-play goalof the game.


Daniel Paille added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining.

The Sabres capitalized on their first power-play chance to openthe scoring.


Derek Roy redirected a sharp pass from Maxim Afinogenov pastPrice at 8:56 into the first period.


Buffalo doubled its lead 7:39 into the second period when TimConnolly raced to the net, pouncing on a big rebound off BrianCampbell's shot from the point. Connolly beat Price for hissecond goal of the season - and first since October 11.

Montreal halved the deficit when Christopher Higgins buried a20-foot wrist shot past the glove of Miller. It was Higgins'ninth of the season.


Miller made two spectacular saves to preserve a 2-1 lead through40 minutes. He denied Guillaume Latendresse with a sparklingglove save with 5:28 left in middle session. In the period'sclosing minute, he denied Higgins' uncontested wrap-aroundattempt.


Tomas Plekanec tied the game five minutes into the third periodon a breakaway.


Price saw his personal three-game winning streak snapped aftermaking 28 saves.

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Montreal 0 1 1 --2
Buffalo 1 1 2 --4
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Derek Roy 8 (power play) (Maxim
Afinogenov, Jason Pominville), 8:56. Penalties: M Ryan, Buf
(holding), 3:33; T Kostopoulos, Mon (slashing), 7:36; H Tallinder, Buf
(double minor high sticking), 9:41; T Vanek, Buf (slashing), 18:16.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Buffalo, Tim Connolly 2 (Brian Campbell,
Paul Gaustad), 7:39. 3, Montreal, Chris Higgins 9 (power play) (Mark
Streit, Saku Koivu), 9:45. Penalties: A Kovalev, Mon (slashing),
5:26; A Kotalik, Buf (tripping), 9:26.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 7 (Andrei
Kostitsyn), 4:56. 5, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 5 (power play) (Nathan
Paetsch, Jason Pominville), 11:27. 6, Buffalo, Daniel Paille 5 (empty
net) (Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly), 19:46. Penalties: M
Afinogenov, Buf (hooking), 5:06; M Komisarek, Mon (tripping), 10:11.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Montreal 12 10 10 --32
Buffalo 9 13 10 --32
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 6, Buffalo - 2 of 3. Goalies :
Montreal, Carey Price (31 shots, 28 saves; record: 5-2-1). Buffalo,
Ryan Miller (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 8-9-1). A: 18,690. Referees:
Dan Marouelli, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: David Brisebois, Michel
Cormier.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at BUFFALO

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 0 1 1 --2
BUFFALO 1 1 2 --4
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Derek Roy 8 (power play) (Maxim
Afinogenov, Jason Pominville), 8:56. Penalties: M Ryan, Buf
(holding), 3:33; T Kostopoulos, Mon (slashing), 7:36; H Tallinder, Buf
(double minor high sticking), 9:41; T Vanek, Buf (slashing), 18:16.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Buffalo, Tim Connolly 2 (Brian Campbell,
Paul Gaustad), 7:39. 3, Montreal, Chris Higgins 9 (power play) (Mark
Streit, Saku Koivu), 9:45. Penalties: A Kovalev, Mon (slashing),
5:26; A Kotalik, Buf (tripping), 9:26.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 7 (Andrei
Kostitsyn), 4:56. 5, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 5 (power play) (Nathan
Paetsch, Jason Pominville), 11:27. 6, Buffalo, Daniel Paille 5 (empty
net) (Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly), 19:46. Penalties: M
Afinogenov, Buf (hooking), 5:06; M Komisarek, Mon (tripping), 10:11.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 12 10 10 --32
BUFFALO 9 13 10 --32
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MON - 1 of 6, BUF - 2 of 3. Goalies :
Montreal, Carey Price (31 shots, 28 saves; record: 5-2-1). Buffalo,
Ryan Miller (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 8-9-1). A: 18,690. Referees:
Dan Marouelli, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: David Brisebois, Michel
Cormier.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MONTREAL BUFFALO
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Koivu 0 1 -2 1 H Tallinder 0 0 +1 3
T Plekanec 1 0 +1 3 A Kotalik 0 0 even 1
B Smolinski 0 0 even 1 T Connolly 1 1 +2 4
C Higgins 1 0 -2 5 D Paille 1 0 +1 2
S Begin 0 0 even 1 T Vanek 1 0 even 5
M Dandenault 0 0 even 1 P Gaustad 0 1 even 1
A Kovalev 0 0 -1 4 J Pominville 0 2 -1 0
K Chipchura 0 0 even 0 M Ryan 0 0 -1 1
M Streit 0 1 even 5 N Paetsch 0 1 even 1
R Hamrlik 0 0 even 0 N Pratt 0 0 even 0
A Kostitsyn 0 1 +1 2 C MacArthur 0 0 +1 0
F Bouillon 0 0 even 0 T Lydman 0 0 +1 1
T Kostopoulos 0 0 even 0 B Campbell 0 1 even 1
P Brisebois 0 0 even 1 J Hecht 0 0 even 4
M Ryder 0 0 -1 3 J Spacek 0 0 even 3
A Markov 0 0 -1 2 M Afinogenov 0 2 +1 2
M Komisarek 0 0 -1 1 A Peters 0 0 even 0
G Latendresse 0 0 even 2 D Roy 1 0 even 3
J Gorges HEALTHY A Mair ANKLE INJURY
M Grabovski HEALTHY D Stafford SHOULDER</div>

 

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Sabres are regainingtheir form at the expense of the Montreal Canadiens.

Thomas Vanek scored the eventual game-winning goal and RyanMiller made 30 saves as the Sabres defeated the Canadiens, 4-2,on Friday.


Buffalo won for the third straight time, defeating Montrealtwice in the process. The teams close out a home-and-homeseries in Bell Centre on Saturday.


Vanek's power-play goal with 8:33 remaining in the third periodgave Buffalo a 3-2 lead. Vanek snapped a seven-game goal-lessdrought by backhanding his own rebound past Montreal rookiegoaltender Carey Price.


It was Buffalo's second power-play goal of the game.

"It was a good play by (Nathan) Paetsch," Vanek said. "He justshot it at my stick. I got a good tip on it. I hit (Price) inthe shoulder, he was looking for the puck, he didn't know it waslaying on his back side. It was a good bounce. It was a goodwin for us."


Daniel Paille added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining.

The Sabres capitalized on their first power-play chance to openthe scoring.


Derek Roy redirected a sharp pass from Maxim Afinogenov pastPrice at 8:56 into the first period.


"This is the roll we've been looking for and we have to stay onit," Roy said. "Keep working hard in practice and in games andlook forward to the game against Montreal, a big division game."

Buffalo doubled its lead 7:39 into the second period when TimConnolly raced to the net, pouncing on a big rebound off BrianCampbell's shot from the point. Connolly beat Price for hissecond goal of the season - and first since October 11.

Montreal halved the deficit when Christopher Higgins buried a20-foot wrist shot past the glove of Miller. It was Higgins'ninth of the season.


Miller made two spectacular saves to preserve a 2-1 lead through40 minutes. He denied Guillaume Latendresse with a sparklingglove save with 5:28 left in middle session. In the period'sclosing minute, he denied Higgins' uncontested wrap-aroundattempt.


"I'm pleased with our effort and the great part is we have roomto improve which is scary for the rest of the division," Millersaid. "If we stay motivated and we keep trying to improve,teams are going to have a tough time with us."


Lindy Ruff was also pleased with his team's play of late.

"I think putting three together, they have been solid games, andthey have been against good opponents," Ruff said. "I thinkthat is important for our team right now. That was a tough gametonight."


Tomas Plekanec tied the game five minutes into the third periodon a breakaway.


"I thought when Plekanec scored that goal that was what weneeded to turn the tide off the game," Higgins said. "Thenthere was the questionable call on Mike (Komisarek), that was apretty bad one.


"They scored power-play goals, they cashed in on theiropportunities and they played pretty tight defensively - butit's no excuse for how we started the game."


Price saw his personal three-game winning streak snapped aftermaking 28 saves.