MONTREAL- In a much-needed victory, the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 7-2, thanks in large part to forward Jeff Skinner's five-point night. Skinner, scoring two goals and adding three assists, helped the Sabres snap an eight-game losing streak.
The game began with Sabres' rookie goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen making his NHL debut in place of the injured Linus Ullmark. Luukkonen looked calm and collected in net, making several critical saves early in the game to keep the Sabres in the competition.
In the first period, Sabres' forward Dylan Cozens opened up the scoring with a wrist shot that caught Canadiens' goaltender Carey Price off guard. Then, in the second period, Sabres' forward Sam Reinhart added to the lead, tucking the puck past Price's glove to make it 2-0.
However, the Canadiens didn't go down without a fight. Canadiens' forward Tyler Toffoli, who leads the Canadiens in goals this season, scored his 23rd of the season to cut the Sabres' lead to one goal.
But then, Skinner took over the game. In the late stages of the second period, he scored a backhand goal off a slick pass from Sabres' forward Victor Olofsson. Then, early in the third period, Skinner assisted on Sabres' defenseman Henri Jokiharju's goal.
Skinner then scored his second goal of the night, firing a one-timer past Price's glove, making the score 5-1. Canadiens' forward Nick Suzuki scored a goal to make it 5-2, but the Sabres had an answer. Skinner assisted on Sabres' forward Rasmus Asplund's goal before Reinhart scored his second of the evening, making the final score 7-2.
The win was the Sabres' first since a 6/'>6-1 thrashing of the Philadelphia Flyers on April 11th. The Sabres showed a renewed energy and focus that was lacking during their eight-game losing streak. It is uncertain whether it was the team's new coach Don Granato, who took over on March 17th, or Skinner's leadership and big night that sparked the team's performance.
Skinner, who is in the midst of a disappointing season, showed why he is one of the league's most gifted scorers. He now has nine goals and eleven assists in thirty games this season after scoring forty goals in his first year with the Sabres.
The Sabres now have a record of 8-23-5, placing them last in the NHL. They have been eliminated from playoff contention for the tenth straight year, which is the longest active playoff drought in the league. Despite the loss, the Canadiens still hold onto the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division with a record of 17-12-9.
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In conclusion, the Sabres' victory against the Canadiens was a reminder of how talented the team can be when they play with a sense of urgency and focus. Whether this win is a turning point for the team remains uncertain, but the Sabres' fans can take solace in Skinner's big night and Luukkonen's impressive NHL debut.