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Thomas Vanek scored twice in the final period, including the game-tying goal in the final seconds of regulation, and the Sabres went on to beat the Canadiens in a shootout 5-4. It marked another multi-point game for the Buffalo forward, who upped his league-leading point total to 21 on the season.
The Canadiens opened the scoring on a Tomas Plekanec shot that found the back of the net. It took the Sabres only 15 seconds to respond, as Steve Ott wristed the puck between Peter Budaj's pads for his second goal of the season and first since the opener.
It remained 1-1 until the 12:31 mark of the second period when Brendan Gallagher connected on his fourth of the year, but, once again, Buffalo struck back almost immediately. Tyler Ennis stuffed one home just 36 seconds later on a breakaway attempt. The Sabres drove to the net and stuffed the puck past Budaj, tying the game 2-2. Montreal regained the lead late in the second period, converting on a 5-on-3 power play when P.K. Subban ripped one home with 1:28 left on the clock.
The Canadiens made it 4-2 on Plekanec's second of the evening just 45 seconds into the final period, but Vanek pulled the Sabres within a goal just 25 seconds into a four-minute power play. Vanek lifted a backhand over a sprawling Budaj, good for his ninth goal of the season. The Sabres forward then played the late-game hero, capping off a mad scramble in the crease by poking a shot over the goal line with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation, sending the game to overtime tied 4-4.
The two sides headed to a shootout following a scoreless overtime period, where Vanek and Jason Pominville both converted. Miller stopped Brian Gionta on Montreal's final attempt and the Sabres skated off the ice with a 5-4 win.
With the win, the Sabres stop a three-game losing skid and improve to 4-6-1. Buffalo will visit the New York Islanders on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Hear the call on WGR and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network.
1st Period
Goals
4:11 - MTL - Tomas Plekanec (5) (Rene Bourque, Alexei Emelin)
4:26 - BUF - Steve Ott (2) (Jochen Hecht)
Penalties
7:15 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (2 min., interference)
14:48 - MTL - Brendan Gallagher (2 min., boarding)
14:48 - MTL - Brendan Gallagher (2 min., roughing)
14:48 - BUF - T.J. Brennan (2 min., roughing)
2nd Period
Goals
12:31 - MTL - Brendan Gallagher (4) (Brandon Prust, Raphael Diaz)
13:06 - BUF - Tyler Ennis (4) (Marcus Foligno)
18:32 - MTL - P.K. Subban (PPG) (2) (Andrei Markov, Max Pacioretty)
Penalties
2:50 - MTL - Colby Armstrong (2 min., unsportsmanlike conduct)
4:04 - MTL - Rene Bourque (2 min., hooking)
8:16 - MTL - Erik Cole (2 min., holding the stick)
14:57 - MTL - Brian Gionta (2 min., holding)
17:06 - BUF - Cody Hodgson (2 min., hooking)
17:39 - BUF - Steve Ott (2 min., high-sticking)
3rd Period
Goals
0:45 - MTL - Tomas Plekanec (6) (Brian Gionta)
7:57 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (PPG) (9) (Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno)
19:58 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (10) (Steve Ott, Tyler Ennis)
Penalties
7:32 - MTL - Ryan White (2 min., roughing)
7:32 - MTL - Ryan White (2 min., roughing)
13:37 - BUF - Jochen Hecht (2 min., hooking)
Overtime
Goals
None
Penalties
None
Shootout
BUF - Thomas Vanek - GOAL
MTL - Alex Galchenyuk - GOAL
BUF - Tyler Ennis - MISS
MTL - Rene Bourque - MISS
BUF - Jason Pominville - GOAL
MTL - Brian Gionta - MISS
Goaltending
MTL - Peter Budaj (36 shots, 40 saves)
BUF - Ryan Miller (28 saves, 32 shots)
Power Plays
MTL - 1of 4
BUF - 1 of 7
Three Stars
1.) Thomas Vanek (2 G, 0 A)
2.) Tyler Ennis (1 G, 2 A)
3.) Marcus Foligno (0 G, 2 A)