Montreal 2, Buffalo 1 (OT)
Canadiens win in overtime, spoiling Sabres' opener
Gionta nets winner after fortunate bounce
The checklist definitely had a Blue and Gold tint. Shots? Advantage, Buffalo Sabres. Scoring chances? Buffalo again. Special teams? Yup, stay with the Sabres.
Final score?
Ah, that's where the Montreal Canadiens answered.
The Sabres provided their opening-night crowd with a nearly nonstop diet of treats. The Canadiens, though, are proving to be masters of pulling tricks. Despite being outplayed nearly all night, the Habs escaped HSBC Arena with a 2-1 overtime victory Saturday.
The Sabres controlled almost every department on the stat sheet, most notably earning a 35-17 edge in shots. The final one — by Montreal — was a stunner.
Scott Gomez entered the Sabres' zone and ripped a shot that bounced off defenseman Craig Rivet's shin pad to the end boards. Brian Gionta was next to the net when the puck caromed to the front, and he knocked it out of midair to start another celebration for the undefeated Habs.
Montreal won its opener in overtime, too, a 4-3 victory over Toronto that saw them get outshot, 46-27.
"It's just disappointing because I think we played a great game," Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller said. "It was outstanding."
The locals in the announced crowd of 18,690 were on the edge of their seats, poised to jump out and begin the 2009-10 season with a roar. They had every reason to be eager. The Sabres were the dominant team.
Jason Pominville nearly won the game in the final minute of regulation. Chris Butler and Thomas Vanek had golden opportunities in overtime.
The Canadiens had one, and it went in.
"We did a lot of good things. We just didn't score," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We didn't give up much, but we had some opportunities we didn't take advantage of. They played a smart game. They just kept dumping the puck out and icing it, trying to slow things down.
"You've got to give them credit. They tried to hang around, and they hung around and got the bounce they wanted."
Miller believes the Canadiens got two breaks. They scored the tying goal midway through the second period on a play that had Miller flying backward and boos barreling forth.
Travis Moen rushed toward Miller and was pushed from behind by defenseman Andrej Sekera. Moen shot the puck while falling, then slid into Miller. Though the fans howled as their goaltender and net careened backward, the puck trickled through Miller's pads and crossed the goal line before the cage was dislodged.
"The referee said [Sekera] was leaning on him, and that's why he gave him the benefit of the doubt," Miller said. "Still, the puck died between my feet and didn't have any momentum towards the net anymore. The only reason it went in was because I got blown out."
Right from the start, it looked like the Canadiens were going to get blown out. Tim Connolly, being counted on to stay healthy and be a top point producer, picked an ideal way to build off his career season. The right winger opened the scoring for the year on the power play, just 2:40 into the game.
Immediately after Glen Metropolit skated to the penalty box for hooking Patrick Kaleta, Connolly won the faceoff to the right of goaltender Carey Price. Rivet's shot from the point struck Montreal defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, and Connolly fired the carom past Price.
That was the only time Price dug a puck out of his net. The Sabres, who don't play again until hosting the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, were shocked they had to do it twice.
"That's just a tough game," Sabres center Tim Kennedy said. "We really controlled the play. They didn't have too many chances, then they got that one bounce and the game's over."
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