Sabres close gap against Canadiens in road victory

Field Level Media|published: Thu 22nd January, 22:02 2026

NHL: Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens

Jan 22, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) plays the puck and Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch (89) defends during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves to help the visiting Buffalo Sabres to a 4-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Jason Zucker, Beck Malenstyn, Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs scored for the Sabres, who halted a two-game skid and moved within two points of Montreal for third in the Atlantic Division.

Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist, and Samuel Montembeault made 13 saves for the Canadiens, who had won two straight.

Zucker gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead 44 seconds into the contest. Jack Quinn took a short feed from Ryan McLeod at the defensive blue line and skated up to create a 2-on-1 with Zucker. Quinn carried it to the top of the left circle before sending it over to Zucker, who buried it glove side from the right circle.

Malenstyn scored short-handed to double it to 2-0 at 14:58. Mattias Samuelsson pushed the puck out of the zone at the blue line, and Malenstyn hustled to gather it by the benches. He continued down the left side before cutting around Noah Dobson to the front of the net and slip a backhand by Montembeault's left skate.

Benson made it 3-0 at 2:25 of the second period. Noah Ostlund dished a backhand to Konsta Helenius in front, and Helenius sent it over to Benson driving to the crease. Benson's redirect hit the post before the forward pushed it across the goal line.

Cole Caufield got Montreal on the board a minute and a half later when he one-timed a pass from Suzuki from the high slot and beat Luukkonen blocker side to cut it to 3-1 at 3:56.

That gave the Canadiens life, and they started to push as they built up a 9-1 advantage in shots on goal in the period by the midway mark.

Suzuki then narrowed it to 3-2 at 11:20. Zachary Bolduc intercepted a Sabres clearing attempt, catching it with his glove before dropping it down for a shot from the slot. Luukkonen made the save, but the rebound bounced right in front, and Suzuki quickly collected it and put it in the net.

Krebs scored an empty-net goal at 19:16 for the 4-2 final.

--Field Level Media

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