Jake Allen holds the fort once more, Canadiens file second straight win

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There have been quite a few questions dealing with the rebuilding Canadiens heading into this season, together with one which appeared pretty apparent: might both of their two goaltenders, Jake Allen or Sam Montembeault, seize management of the crease?

Whereas Montreal is simply 5 video games into its embryonic marketing campaign, veteran Allen is staking declare to turning into the crew’s go-to netminder.

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The 33-year-old produced his second consecutive stellar efficiency Monday night time, because the Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 at KeyBank Heart.

Allen made 36 saves — 17 alone within the scoreless second interval — and was named the sport’s first star for the second time in three nights. The one aim he surrendered got here barely greater than seven minutes into the primary interval, by Jeff Skinner, on the facility play.

Defenceman Justin Barron, along with his first aim this season, opened the scoring for the guests, lower than three minutes following the opening faceoff, earlier than the Canadiens sealed the victory with two unanswered objectives within the third interval.

Brendan Gallagher scored the successful aim at 3:31, his second in as many video games, earlier than Tanner Pearson, along with his third this season, produced an insurance coverage aim on the facility play at 16:53.

The Canadiens improved to 3-1-1, successful a second consecutive contest for the primary time this season. And so they triumphed with out Cole Caufield contributing. Caufield, with three objectives and two assists, had produced a minimum of one level in every of the earlier video games.

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“Jake made some massive saves for us,” head coach Martin St. Louis informed journalists in Buffalo. “He stored the sport shut and gave us an opportunity to get forward and separate. If not for Jake it might have been a unique story.”

Allen didn’t look good on Skinner’s aim — his third this season — scored from a pointy angle to the goalie’s left, beating him excessive to his stick facet. However he realized from his mistake and performed error-free the remainder of the night time.

He saved his greatest for the second interval, making a glove save on Dylan Cozens, earlier than robbing Alex Tuch on a rebound from the lip of the crease whereas the Sabres had been having fun with one in all their 5 power-plays. Buffalo had 4 pictures alone on that specific two-minute sequence.

Allen additionally made good saves later within the interval on Casey Mittelstadt and Jordan Greenway.

“I’m simply making an attempt to get just a little bit higher each time proper now,” Allen mentioned. “That’s my mantra and aim. It’s not going to be good on a regular basis, however I’m going to attempt to hold this rolling. We’re at a degree within the schedule the place we’re a bit extra contemporary. Reap the benefits of this time.

“Tonight was a giant win. To discover a technique to come right here after one other massive, emotional win the opposite night time. To get again on the horse generally isn’t simple. I used to be impressed with the group. It wasn’t fairly however we bought it achieved.”

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With the sport hanging within the stability heading into the ultimate interval of regulation time, it was Montreal veterans who got here by means of on a younger crew.

Gallagher, at age 31, won’t get to the web as rapidly as he did earlier in his profession, however nonetheless finds a method, changing David Savard’s rebound from the lip of the crease the place, it appears, all of his objectives are manufactured.

“I’ve been doing it for a very long time,” mentioned Gallagher, who drew an help on Pearson’s aim. “I’m taking part in with two guys (Pearson and Sean Monahan) who make it simple. I’m actually comfy taking part in with them. The road appears to be working proper now and I’m wholesome. You simply hope it retains going. We wish to hold contributing.”

Pearson, additionally 31, scored his third aim in 5 video games and drew an help on Gallagher’s tally. Acquired from Vancouver final month, together with a third-round draft alternative in 2025, for goalie Casey DeSmith, his acquisition has confirmed to be a pleasing shock.

“We’re simply holding it easy,” Pearson mentioned of his line. “We’re not doing something too outrageous. We’re not reinventing the wheel. It’s fairly easy hockey and it appears to be working thus far.”

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Defenceman Savard, a gradual blueliner, might need produced the shift of the season within the third interval, whereas Buffalo was on the facility play. He blocked three pictures, misplaced his stick together with a skate blade, but managed to persevere earlier than hobbling off with what seemed to be a hand harm. Savard was unable to return.

“It was unbelievable,” Gallagher mentioned. “It takes a number of braveness. He has been doing it for a very long time. You may’t clarify the way it makes the fellows on the bench really feel, to have a man like that on the crew. Kudos to him. We’re fortunate to have him.”

The Canadiens entertain New Jersey Tuesday night time.

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