The Montreal Canadiens had a date with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night for the second time in three days, and as is often the case when two teams face each other in a short span, there was no love lost between the two sides.

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Perhaps it’s because the Sabres will be missing the playoffs for a 14th season in a row, but Lindy Ruff’s players looked frustrated and struggled to keep their emotions in check straight from the get-go. Their lack of discipline gave the Canadiens opportunities they wouldn’t miss, and even though they played a strong second frame, the damage had already been done.

One For All And All For One

Not long ago, former Canadiens blueliner Jeff Petry was heavily criticized for looking the other way when Zack Kassian ran over Samuel Montembeault, but that would never happen today. When there were extracurricular activities after the whistle, and lord knows there were a lot of them in the first frame, Martin St. Louis’s men were there to stand up for one another.

It wasn’t just Arber Xhekaj playing his usual sheriff role, not that he didn’t invite Jordan Greenway to dance, but the Sabres’ left winger wanted none of it. The Canadiens’ tough guy wanted a word because of Greenway's altercation with Dobes on Saturday, but the goaltender had asked for it, and I have no issue with his refusal to answer the bell.

Fast Lane

With his two assists in the first frame, Calder Trophy candidate Lane Hutson reached the 50-career-point mark and made history, becoming the fastest Canadiens blueliner to achieve the milestone. It took him 63 games to get there, the previous record holder was Chris Chelios, who had done it in 66 games.

He’s not the fastest in NHL history, though; Mr. Hockey’s son Mark Howe did it in 46 games. Hutson only missed out on the top-10 and became the 11th fastest rearguard in history to put up 50 points. Cale Makar is fifth, having gotten there in 57 games.

Hutson now has 48 points on the season and 21 games remaining to pad up his points total and improve his case for the rookie of the year title. The last time it was awarded to a defenseman, Detroit Red Wings' Moritz Seider claimed it with 50 points to his name, a mark the Canadiens rookie should be able to pulverise.

It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over

The Canadiens got lucky tonight. They capitalised on their opportunities in the first frame and then sat back. They were fortunate to play the Sabres, who are not a playoff-contending team. The result would have been very different had they played the Edmonton Oilers or the Florida Panthers.

As bad as the Sabres looked in the first frame—I even told myself they were the only team capable of making the Canadiens look like the Harlem Globetrotters—they were nearly able to come back and get the win. When Kent Hughes says his players need to learn to play in games that matter, this is precisely what he means. Montreal is fighting for its playoffs life right now and had an opportunity to get within one point of the second wild card spot tonight (they did in the end), and they took the entire second frame off.

Eleven shots in the last 40 minutes of regulation are unacceptable, and it’s no wonder St. Louis headed to the room like a bullet after Mike Matheson’s game-winning goal. It’s a fifth win in a row, but this one should have been a loss.

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