Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs’ Room: ‘Kind of games I can really get into’: Montembeault


BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sam Montembeault had a busy night and he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Playing for the first time since he beat Pittsburgh on Oct. 17, Montembeault made 43 saves to lead the Canadiens to a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. It was Montreal’s first road win of the season and evened the club’s record at 4-4-0.

“When I haven’t played for two weeks, these are the kind of games I can really get into,” said Montembeault. “I’ve won two games in a row and I have to keep it going. Last year, I played every game against the Sabres and I lost both of the games here so it was good to get a win tonight.”

“He’s looked sharp,” said Josh Anderson, who scored the winning goal at 16:14 of the third period. “He’s worked hard in practice and it carried over into the game tonight.”

Anderson was in a position to score the winner because Montembeault stood tall during a third-period Montreal play, which produced three shorthanded scoring chances for the Sabres.

Buffalo goaltender Eric Comrie made what Anderson described as an unbelievable stop on a shot from the slot seconds before he scored the winner.

“All I saw was net and I was ready to raise (my arms) and he came across,” said Anderson. “I was fortunate enough to get the second chance.”

Defenceman David Savard picked up his second assist of the night when he got the puck out to Anderson who scored on a blast from the point.

“I don’t think Savvy gets enough credit for his offensive play,” said coach Martin St. Louis. “We all know what he can do in the defensive zone, but he can contribute offensively as well.”

  1. Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens makes the save against Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres as Kaiden Guhle #21 defends during the second period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens makes the save against Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres as Kaiden Guhle #21 defends during the second period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

  2. Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki (14) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenceman Owen Power (25) looks to defend during the first period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki (14) skates with the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenceman Owen Power (25) looks to defend during the first period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  3. Cole Caufield #22 of the Montreal Canadiens takes a shot on a breakaway as Owen Power #25 of the Buffalo Sabres defends during the first period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Cole Caufield #22 of the Montreal Canadiens takes a shot on a breakaway as Owen Power #25 of the Buffalo Sabres defends during the first period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

  4. Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres scores a goal against Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres scores a goal against Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

  5. Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

  6. Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) defends as Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) controls the puck during the second period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) defends as Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) controls the puck during the second period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  7. Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens makes the save against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens makes the save against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

  8. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) makes a save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) makes a save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  9. Montreal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj (72) skates with the puck during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Montreal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj (72) skates with the puck during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  10. Montreal Canadiens centre Kirby Dach (77) controls the puck as he gets checked by Buffalo Sabres defenceman Casey Fitzgerald (45) during the third period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Montreal Canadiens centre Kirby Dach (77) controls the puck as he gets checked by Buffalo Sabres defenceman Casey Fitzgerald (45) during the third period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  11. Buffalo Sabres defenceman Lawrence Pilut (20) knocks Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) off the puck during the third period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Buffalo Sabres defenceman Lawrence Pilut (20) knocks Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) off the puck during the third period at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  12. Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  13. Buffalo Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie (31) makes a save during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022.

    Buffalo Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie (31) makes a save during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig /USA TODAY Sports

  14. Cole Caufield #22 of the Montreal Canadiens takes a shot during the third period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Cole Caufield #22 of the Montreal Canadiens takes a shot during the third period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

  15. Eric Comrie #31 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the save against Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Eric Comrie #31 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the save against Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at KeyBank Center on Oct. 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

  16. Kaiden Guhle #21 and Josh Anderson #17 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrate a goal by Anderson against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at KeyBank Center on October 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y.

    Kaiden Guhle #21 and Josh Anderson #17 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrate a goal by Anderson against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at KeyBank Center on October 27, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

St. Louis juggled his lines and Anderson played left wing with centre Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher, and the trio clicked with Anderson and Gallagher each scoring a goal.

“It was my first time playing with Gally and I joked around that we wouldn’t have a problem with net presence because it would be either me or him (in front),” said Anderson. “I thought we played well as a line.”

Montreal’s other goal was scored by rookie defenceman Kaiden Guhle. He picked the top shelf from the right faceoff circle for his first NHL goal.

“It was a goal-scorer’s goal,’” said Anderson.

“It was an awesome play by Savvy,” said Guhle. “It was great to get my first goal but it was also awesome it came in a win.”

Guhle was also proud that St. Louis had confidence in him to be on the ice in the final minute when Montreal was protecting the one-goal lead.



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