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Kovalchuk, playing his 10th game since joining
Montreal, tied the game at 1-1 early in the second with his
fifth goal in seven games, and Gallagher returned from a
six-game absence with a concussion to score his 16th for the
lead less than three minutes later.
Tomas Tatar added an empty-netter plus an assist, and Carey
Price needed to make just 20 saves as the Canadiens won for the
fifth time in seven games overall.
Jack Eichel secured his first 30-goal season while becoming the
first Buffalo player with at least 30 and 30 assists since Jason
Pominville (30 goals, 43 assists) in 2011-12.
The Sabres, however, managed just 21 shots while losing their
third in a row.
In a matchup of two teams desperately trying to find a way into
playoff position in the Eastern Conference, Buffalo opened the
scoring when Eichel ripped a shot from the near circle past
Price on the power play 7:11 into the game. Eichel has 13 points
in the last 12 games overall and 16 goals in his last 16 home
contests.
The Sabres have recorded at least one power-play goal in each of
their last five home games.
Montreal, which didn't record its first official shot on goal
until 10 1/2 minutes into the game, leveled the score just 44
seconds into the second period. Kovalchuk went top shelf with a
rebound of his own blocked shot past Sabres netminder Carter
Hutton.
Less than three minutes later, Montreal went up 2-1. Gallagher
went back and forth on his stick before converting a backhand
shot by Hutton, who made 27 saves while falling to 0-8-4 as a
starter since winning his first six starts of the season.
Buffalo veteran Kyle Okposo exited with an undisclosed injury
apparently suffered late in the first period.
--Field Level Media
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