Sabres Suffer Another Setback Against Canadiens in Frustrating Loss

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Sabres fell victim to their own mistakes on Saturday night, suffering a 4-2 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. The loss marked Buffalo’s third consecutive setback against Montreal this season, leaving them with a disappointing 0-3 record against their division rivals.

Despite having control of the puck during the first two goals scored by the Canadiens, the Sabres were unable to maintain possession, leading to costly turnovers that directly influenced the game’s outcome. A giveaway on an empty-net goal late in the game continued the trend of self-sabotage. Coach Lindy Ruff expressed his frustration postgame, stating, “We didn’t manage the puck well enough. Sometimes you’re going to have to win by letting them make the mistake. It’s a 2-1 game. Don’t make your own mistake.”

The Sabres initially led the game with two quick goals, but everything fell apart late in the second period. Josh Anderson tied the game at 13:33, beating goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen during a 3-on-2 rush. Just a minute later, Buffalo’s power-play opportunity ended abruptly when JJ Peterka received an interference penalty after attempting to clear a dropped stick.

Ruff highlighted this incident, saying, “Realistically, all he was trying to do was move it out of the way. He is not trying to go for it; he was trying to make the next play.” The Sabres, who now own a record of 24-29-5, fell further behind in the standings, sitting last in the Eastern Conference.

Fast-forward to the final minutes of the second period, the Sabres suffered another critical mistake, allowing Alex Newhook to score a goal with just 2.6 seconds remaining, giving the Canadiens a 3-2 lead. This pivotal moment exemplified the Sabres’ late-game struggles, with Ruff saying, “We gave up a goal with two seconds left. It just killed us.” Captain Rasmus Dahlin lamented, “If you have a division team, you can’t lose three out of three games. It’s brutal.”

The previous three games against the Canadiens had seen the Sabres outscored 17-8, a statistic that clearly weighs on the players as they move forward. The Canadiens took advantage of Buffalo’s mistakes and benefited from being in the right place at the right time. Currently, the Canadiens are contending for a playoff spot, climbing within three points of Detroit for the last wild card position in the Eastern Conference.

In the midst of this disappointing performance, the Sabres will have a chance to redeem themselves as they face the Canadiens again on Monday in Bell Centre. With emotions running high after the loss, players are well aware that the upcoming matchup could be even more contentious. Ruff emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “We got to pucks and didn’t execute. A lot.”