Call of the Wilde: Montreal Canadiens bested by Sabres with 5-3 loss in Buffalo

The Montreal Canadiens didn’t think a month ago that three games in January against the Buffalo Sabres would be a difficult matchup. However, the Sabres are suddenly the hottest team in hockey with 15 wins in their last 17 games. The Sabres are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Imagine in Montreal how a rebuild would feel that is currently in year 15. Buffalo is in a playoff position after shading the Canadiens 5-3. Wilde Horses The 62nd pick in the 2022 draft has become the second-fastest defenceman to 100 assists in NHL history. Lane Hutson assisted on an Ivan Demidov rocket for his 100th assist in his 132nd game. Only Sergei Zubov was faster to 100 assists as he needed 127 games. Even the great Cale Makar took 140 games to hit 100 assists. Hutson was back on the power play when the Canadiens had a two-man advantage against the Sabres. He slid a sweet pass to Demidov who captured his 40th point of the season. Demidov also made a heads-up play just before the goal, when he gave the puck to the Sabres when there was a delayed penalty, so the Canadiens could have more five-on-three time instead of six-on-four. It was a small move, but a move that indicated how heady this rookie is already. The other Canadiens goal in a wild first period was just another typical amazing shot from Cole Caufield. He was on a two-on-one when he elected to shoot. It was essentially a deliberate shot into the pads, so he could capture the rebound. He immediately fired it under the bar for his 21st of the season. The return to Hutson and Demidov on the first power play unit continued to prove successful in the second period. The key to the tally was simply getting a shot on the net, then hunting for rebounds. Historically, Hutson doesn’t cause fear with his shot, but the rebound to Suzuki sure does. Suzuki had his 15th goal of the season. Caufield with his second point, and Hutson with his second point as well. The power play that had been struggling so badly was two for three on the night. Get breaking National news Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy . Wilde Goats The Reverse VH is difficult to watch sometimes. The concept is to take away the bottom half of the net in close or at the sides when it’s extremely difficult to get the puck upstairs from in tight. It’s got percentages on its side, but when it doesn’t work, it looks so bad. Jacob Fowler was in the Reverse VH when Josh Doan came from the side and flipped it under the bar. Great shot, but a terrible look from the goalie, even though this is the way they are taught to handle the moment. It takes some getting used to, even if you have watched hockey for a long time. The Canadiens haven’t shown overtly horrible defending much...

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