NHL: Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens - Source: Imagn

3 most impressive Montreal Canadiens players from 6-1 win over Buffalo Sabres feat. Patrik Laine

Modified Dec 18, 2024 05:17 GMT

The Montreal Canadiens had dropped their last two games by a combined score of 13-4, losses to the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins.

But they returned to home ice at Bell Centre to face the struggling Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and were determined not to allow them to pick up their first win in 11 attempts.

In the end, the Habs added to Buffalo's misery with a blowout victory, largely thanks to the 11th hat trick of Patrik Laine's career.

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Joel Armia took advantage of a brutal turnover by Buffalo's Owen Power just 19 seconds into the first period and broke the ice, giving the Habs the early 1-0 lead.

Just over six minutes later, Laine struck on the power play for his first goal of the night. While Dylan Cozens cut Montreal's lead in half early in the second period, the Habs began to pour it on.

Juraj Slafkovsky picked up his third goal of the season to regain the two-goal lead for Montreal, who then got consecutive goals from Laine, increasing the lead to 5-1. Josh Anderson then got in on the fun late in the period, scoring his sixth goal with 45 seconds left before the intermission.

Sam Montembeault finished with 20 saves, while Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a rough outing with only 15 saves on 21 shots; he was pulled in favor of backup James Reimer.

3 most impressive Montreal Canadiens players from 6-1 win over Buffalo Sabres

#1. Patrik Laine

What an incredible story that the Finnish forward is authoring in his first season with the Canadiens.

Not only did he continue his hot start since returning from an injury he suffered during the pre-season, but he's also given the Habs a badly needed scoring boost.

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With his three goals against the Sabres, he earned the 11th hat trick of his NHL career.

#2. Cole Caufield

While Caufield has primarily been known this season for his goal-scoring, he picked up a pair of helpers in the blowout win over the Sabres, including the primary assist on Laine's hat-trick goal in the 2nd period.

Caufield now has 12 assists on the season to go with his 17 goals.

#3. Sam Montembeault

A fair target of criticism from Canadiens fans and media this season, Montembeault was solid in net for the Habs against Buffalo, stopping all but one of the shots he faced and keeping the Sabres frustrated.

His win improved his record to 10-13-2 and dropped his goals-against-average to a more digestible 2.92.

Laine and Co. will look to continue their winning ways against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Friday.