Sabres beat Canadiens 4-2 for their 17th victory in 21 games

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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)

Buffalo Sabres' Jordan Greenway (12) is upended by Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson (53) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) — 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)

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9:16 PM on Thursday, January 22

The Associated Press

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.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl