Sabres halt Canadiens' five-game winning streak
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Rasmus Ristolainen and Tyler Ennis scored to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Robin Lehner made 31 saves for the Sabres, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Tomas Plekanec scored for Montreal, which had a five-game winning streak come to an end. Carey Price made 28 saves.
The Canadiens (46-25-9) previously wrapped up the Atlantic Division title, while the Sabres (33-35-12) were already eliminated from playoff contention.
Ristolainen opened the scoring 6:01 into the game on a shot through traffic from the point. It was his sixth goal of the season.
Ennis made it 2-0 with 8:25 remaining in the second. With several players battling to regain the puck in the slot after a shot by Evander Kane, Ennis scooped the puck into the net for his fifth goal of the season.
Plekanec got the Canadiens on the board 54 seconds into the third period. Alexander Radulov fed Plekanec to set up a breakaway, and Plekanec's hard deke to his backhand fooled Lehner for Plekanec's 10th goal of the season.
Montreal outshot Buffalo 9-6 in the final period but was unable to find an equalizer.
NOTES: Sabres RW Kyle Okposo has missed four games due to an illness and, according to multiple reports, is in the Neuro Surgical ICU at Buffalo General Hospital. The Sabres released the following statement regarding Okposo: "Kyle continues to be under the care of our doctors as he deals with symptoms from an illness. Out of respect to Kyle and his family, we will have no further comment at this time." ... Montreal D Alexei Emelin left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return. ... Each team had six scratches. Okposo, D Jake McCabe, G Anders Nilsson, D Taylor Fedun, LW William Carrier and LW C.J. Smith were scratched for the Sabres. ... D Shea Weber, D Jordie Benn, RW Michael McCarron, G Al Montoya, LW Andreas Martinsen and C Steve Ott were scratched for the Canadiens. ... This was the 275th meeting all-time between the two teams.