This edition of the Hidden Game is dedicated to the city of Buffalo — always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.
You know the NFL Bills somehow managed to lose four consecutive Super Bowls and now can’t overcome Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. But how about the hard-luck Sabres, who appear destined to miss the NHL playoffs a 14th consecutive season. Think about that for a moment and have some empathy for the husband and wife team of Terry and Kim Pegula, the team’s owners.
Can you imagine the riots in the streets of Montreal that would occur should the Canadiens ever match that streak. The Habs haven’t made the post-season since 2021, when they reached the Stanley Cup final. Come and see us again in 2035 should Montreal match the Sabres’ futility streak.
Then again, don’t; we’ll be retired.
Streak is over: The Sabres were seeking their seventh consecutive home victory, which would have matched a record last established between Oct. 22 and Nov. 24, 1999. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was seeking his sixth consecutive home win. He would have become the first Sabres netminder since Carter Hutton in 2018 to do so.
Break up the Canadiens: Montreal’s 4-2 win Saturday night at KeyBank Center marks its first four-game winning streak since February 2022.
Strange, but true (Part I): As bad as are the Sabres, who sit last in the Atlantic Division, they have a plus-23 first-period goal differential, having scored 68 goals within the first 20 minutes. But they couldn’t beat Jakub Dobes on Saturday night.
Strange, but true (Part II): How might the Sabres’ fortunes this season have changed had they scored more often instead of hitting the post? Buffalo has struck the iron a league-leading 96 times this season, including three more against the Canadiens. Those honours went to Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin and J.J. Peterka.
When you haven’t played in three weeks: It’s always good to stop the first shot. Dobes did so, 1:28 into the game, against Bowen Byram. Dobes was making his first start since Feb. 9, against Tampa Bay, when he was replaced early in the second period after allowing three goals on eight shots.
Dumb penalty (Part I): Tage Thompson, in the offensive zone, for interference against Owen Beck in the first period.
Dumb penalty (Part II): The Sabres were on the power play in the second period when Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson lost his stick — and Peterka decided to swipe it out of the way. That’s illegal.
Great crash: Arber Xhekaj, benched for all but three seconds in the third period against San Jose last Thursday, stood Thompson up at the blueline in the game’s seventh minute. That was 460 pounds coming together. We have no clue how many kilograms that constitutes. Or do we care.
News you need (Part I): Brendan Gallagher had three of the Canadiens’ nine first-period shots.
News you need (Part II):Cole Caufield’s power-play goal early in the second period was his 29th this season — a career-high.
No Cy Young for you: Patrik Laine set up Caufield. His stats-line now reads 14-10 — the differential between goals and assists.
News you need (Part III): Of Caufield’s 29 goals, 20 have come on the road. Guess he doesn’t like home cooking?
Momentum … no schmomentum: The Sabres took a 2-1 lead with a pair of second-period goals in 1:29, by Alex Tuch and Jiri Kulich.
Is there anything this kid can’t do?: Lane Hutson’s pretty solo effort set the wheels in motion for the Canadiens’ second goal with Josh Anderson completing a three-way play at 13:33 of the second period. Anderson can take all the therapy days he requires while he nurses numerous bumps and bruises. When the lights come on, this guy comes to play. Hutson, by the way, now has 42 assists and 46 points in 60 games. He’s going to be special. He already is.
Great moments in officiating: Alexandre Carrier was called for high-sticking Peterka in the second period. Only problem? Peterka high-sticked himself. Hey, nobody’s perfect.
Don’t touch the goalie: In the final minute of the second period, Beck Malenstyn interfered with Dobes. Canadiens defenceman Jayden Struble, playing much better since teamed with Hutson, came to his netminder’s defence and received a roughing penalty — but did what was required.
Late goals kill: Alex Newhook scored the winner with 2.6 seconds remaining in the middle period, deflecting Matheson’s shot.
Quick stats: Juraj Slafkovsky had five hits, one more than Struble. Christian Dvorak and Gallagher each had four shots. Matheson played 26:34. Dobes’ save percentage was .920. The Canadiens won 58.2 per cent of their faceoffs and blocked 26 shots. Buffalo took 24 of the 34 penalty minutes assessed. Should make for a dandy rematch Monday night at the Bell Centre.