MTL@BUF: Game recap

BUFFALO - The Canadiens won the first game of their four-game road swing with a 3-2 victory over the Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday.

Sam Montembeault got the start in goal, playing his first game since the October 17 win over Pittsburgh at home.

Montembeault was solid early in the game, staving off a number of Sabres onslaughts until the Canadiens got on the board.

Montreal's opening goal would come courtesy of Brendan Gallagher, who wristed it from the circle to Sabres starter Eric Comrie's right. Comrie stopped the initial shot, but the rebound bounced off a Buffalo defenseman and into the net.
Josh Anderson and Christian Dvorak each earned an assist on the marker.

The Sabres outshot the Habs 14-11 in the opening frame.
Buffalo tied the game early in the second, however. With Kirby Dach still in the box for a hooking penalty late in the first, Jeff Skinner got the home side on the board just 31 seconds after puck drop.
That would be the only goal of the period, with Buffalo outshooting Montreal 13-9.
The Canadiens got a go-ahead goal with 13:08 remaining in regulation, and it was a special one. The author of the goal was defenseman Kaiden Guhle, and it was the first one of his NHL career. The rookie got the milestone with help from his partner, David Savard, who fed a pinching Guhle for a one-timer from nearly the exact same spot where Gallagher had scored in the first.
Cole Caufield also picked up an assist on the goal.

Buffalo got one back several minutes later, however, when Dylan Cozens beat Montembeault to make it 2-2 with just over seven minutes left in the third.
Montreal went ahead again with 3:46 remaining in the game, and it was once again a Savard feed - this time, to Anderson, who wired it through traffic and in. It was Anderson's third of the season, and this time, there was no turning back.

Montembeault made 43 saves in the win.
The Canadiens headed to St. Louis immediately following the game. They play the Blues at Enterprise Center on Saturday night.