BUFFALO —
Tyler Myers scored 2:01 into overtime to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night.
Tyler Ennis scored twice and Ryan Miller made 26 saves as Buffalo earned its season-best fifth consecutive home win. The Sabres (33-29-8) also improved to 9-2-2 in their past 13 games and jumped ahead of Winnipeg into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Washington in the race for the final playoff spot.
Erik Cole and David Desharnais scored for the Canadiens (27-32-11), who had won two in a row.
Montreal managed to salvage a point when Desharnais forced overtime during a scramble with 5 seconds left in regulation.
The decisive goal came on a 3-on-2 rush, with Derek Roy driving up the left wing. He swung a pass across to Myers, who snapped a low shot just inside the far post.
Buffalo improved to 7-0-1 in its past eight against Northeast Division-rival Montreal. The only blemish was a 4-3 shootout loss in their previous meeting last month. That game prompted Sabres coach Lindy Ruff to say he was “embarrassed” following a sloppy effort that dropped Buffalo into a tie for last place in the East.
It was a frantic finish, with Desharnais scoring during a wild scramble in front. With several Sabres lying on the ice after blocking one shot after another, Cole threaded a pass through the crease, where Desharnais snapped it in from the lower left circle.
Ennis put the Sabres in front 1:50 into the third period courtesy of a fortunate bounce.
Driving up the right wing on a 2-on-1 break, Ennis attempted to sneak a pass through the middle to rookie Marcus Foligno. Montreal defenseman Alexei Emelin reached back with his stick in an attempt to block the pass, but instead redirected it into his own net, just inside the left post.
As Foligno joined Ennis to celebrate behind the net, Emelin looked up to the roof in frustration.
Ennis tied it 11 minutes into the second on a nifty individual play. Collecting Drew Stafford’s pass at the Habs’ blue line on the fly, Ennis turned defenseman Andrei Markov inside out before driving to the net. Faking a backhand shot, Ennis went forehand and beat Peter Budaj.
The Canadiens goalie was otherwise sharp, stopping 33 shots.
In the first period, he somehow got a piece of Thomas Vanek’s shot through a screen. Then, four minutes into the second period, Budaj thrust his glove up to snag Roy’s blast that came on a 3-on-1 break.
Vanek was foiled again with 8:32 remaining, when he got in alone only to have Budaj get a piece of the shot with his right pad.
Despite being outshot 14-6 in the first period, the Canadiens scored the lone goal, capitalizing on a Sabres giveaway in the Buffalo zone 4:32 in. The puck squirted into the middle to Desharnais, who faked a shot before he made a slick pass to Cole, who blasted a shot inside the right post for his 26th of the season.
Sabres
Related Photos
-
Tyler Myers (57) of th Buffalo Sabres scores the game-winning goal on Montreal Canadiens goalie Peter Budaj during overtime of Monday’s NHL game in Buffalo. The Sabres won, 3-2. AP Photo
Not so soon
Last-second Montreal goal ties it, but Sabres beat Habs in OT
- Sabres
-
-
GM Regier cautions fans of more 'suffering'
Asking for patience during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, the only assurance GM Darcy Regier could provide fans was that more “suffering” might be in store before the Sabres can once again be considered contenders.
-
Vanek Attack
Thomas Vanek scored twice, Ryan Miller stopped 40 shots and the Buffalo Sabres edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 on Tuesday night.
-
Sabres beat Bruins in a shootout
Drew Stafford scored the only shootout goal after Buffalo tied the game in the final minute of regulation, and the Sabres beat the Bruins 3-2 on Wednesday night in the first pro game in Boston since the marathon bombings on Monday.
-
Myers out for season
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers will miss the rest of the season after breaking a bone in his leg during the team’s 5-1 loss to Montreal on Thursday.
-
Gagnon's first goal helps Jets beat Sabres
Aaron Gagnon scored his first NHL goal Tuesday night to help the Winnipeg Jets earn a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
-
Quick goals spark Sabres
Brian Flynn and Jochen Hecht scored third-period goals 12 seconds apart, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied to beat the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Friday night.
-
Pens' win streak snapped by Sabres
The Pittsburgh Penguins' run at a record-breaking streak is over.
-
Regehr sent to the Kings
The Los Angeles Kings have acquired defenseman Robyn Regehr from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade for two second-round draft picks.
-
Panthers best Sabres in shootout
Mike Santorelli scored the winning goal in the shootoout to lift the Florida Panthers to a 5-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
-
Foligno nets pair in Sabres victory
Marcus Foligno scored twice and backup goalie Jhonas Enroth made 18 of his 32 saves in the third period of the Buffalo Sabres' 3-1 win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.
- More Sabres Headlines
-
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
