Buffalo Sabres' Beck Malenstyn, right, celebrates after his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with teammate Jordan Greenway (12) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
MONTREAL (AP) — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves, Jason Zucker, Beck Malenstyn and Zach Benson gave Buffalo an early lead and the Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Thursday night for their 17th victory in 21 games.
Peyton Krebs added an empty-netter in the third. The Sabres improved to 28-17-5, beating Montreal for the second time in eight days.
Cole Caufield scored for the fourth straight game for Montreal, and Nick Suzuki also connected, The Canadiens dropped to 28-16-7. They had won two in a row.
Samuel Montembeault stopped 13 shots in his first regulation loss since being called up from a conditioning assignment with Laval of the AHL on Dec. 27.
Buffalo is two points behind Montreal for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Up next
Sabres: At the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Canadiens: At Boston on Saturday night.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl