Here’s a streak we would like to see continue…for the third game in a row, the Sabres scored FIRST. This time a power play goal by Derek Roy on a pretty feed pass from Maxim Afinogenov. The Sabres played an intensely offensive first period getting plenty of scoring chances, but couldn’t put another one past Montreal goalie Carey Price until the second period. Tim Connolly, back for only his second game after recovering from his most recent injury, scored to make it 2-0.

Montreal, however would come back to tie the score, getting one in the second period; then Montreal’s Guillame Latendresse was absolutely robbed by Miller in the final seconds of the second. In the third Montreal tied it on a breakaway by Tomas Plekanec. Buffalo would regain the lead at the 11:27 mark in the third, on a power play by Thomas Vanek, only his fifth of the season. From there Buffalo played a lot of keepaway, first star Ryan Miller took care of business, then Buffalo added an empty netter by Danny Paille on a feed from behind the net by Afinogenov, and the team won its third straight, 4-2.

I had said earlier in the day that the game would be a sellout. Well I was right but this was one contrived accomplishment. There were thin gaps of empty seats in the 300s corners as well as scattered empties in the 100 level end zones. Memo to Sabres: $85 is TOO MUCH money to charge to sit in the top row of the building. Official paid attendance: 18,690, which means that the Sabres get to keep their sellout streak intact until…. ummm… the next GOLD game, December 21 vs Philadelphia. You fans in sec 301, 303 and 325 in the upper rows are welcome to wear your plastic blue seat costumes again then.

I’d guess about 1000 Habs fans in the building, pretty sedate compared to Leaves fans, breaking out in the “ole ole” song after each Montreal goal. Enjoy your stay in Buffalo and have a nice ride home, you visitors from Montreal Stevensville and Welland.

The home and home continues in Montreal tomorrow, and ends the streak of nine straight games against divisional opponents.

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