Bolduc wins shootout as Canadiens survive Sabres rally
Bolduc delivered the deciding shootout goal for a second straight game after Buffalo erased Montreal's 3-1 lead.
Zachary Bolduc converted Montreal's third shootout attempt to secure a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Bell Centre on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The Canadiens recovered after losing a two-goal advantage early in the third period.
Cole Caufield and Alexandre Texier also scored in the shootout for Montreal. Tage Thompson converted Buffalo's opening attempt, but Jack Quinn could not beat Jacob Fowler on the next try, leaving Bolduc a chance to finish the game. Bolduc also supplied the deciding shootout goal against Detroit on Saturday.
Lane Hutson and Caufield each finished regulation with a goal and an assist. Josh Anderson scored Montreal's other goal, and Juraj Slafkovský collected two assists. Fowler stopped 14 of 17 shots in his third consecutive start as the Canadiens improved to 3-2-1.
Olen Zellweger scored both of his goals for Buffalo in regulation. His first put the Sabres ahead at 2:16 of the opening period, before Hutson equalized on a five-on-three power play at 14:28. Caufield made it 2-1 at 1:19 of the second, and Hutson's backhand pass set up Anderson at 19:10 for a two-goal Montreal lead.
Buffalo erased that margin in 61 seconds. Josh Norris scored at 4:24 of the third when his shot deflected off Adam Engstrom, and Zellweger followed at 5:25 with a shot through traffic. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves for the Sabres, who moved to 3-3-1. Mattias Samuelsson and Beck Malenstyn each had two assists.
Montreal played without Mike Matheson, who is day to day with a lower-body injury. Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin did not travel after suffering an upper-body injury against Florida on Monday; he is also day to day.
