The sweep of the NHL starts in Buffalo where the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens went to overtime before the Canadiens skated off with a 3-2 win.
Paul Byron scored with less than two minutes left in the extra session for the game-winner.
“Just started on a controlled breakout and a great pass by [Nathan Beaulieu] to get it right on my tape in full speed, and 2-on-1 I saw Torrey [Mitchell’s] stick and I was just trying to get it over to him and deflected right off the [defenseman’s] stick,” Byron said.
Andrei Markov and Greg Pateryn scored in regulation for the Habs.
“For the longest time our team had trouble scoring, getting prime chances, and that’s kind of the luck of the game and bounces here and there,” Byron said. “Good things happen when you put pucks on net, and we had bodies going to the net and getting sticks on stuff.”
Marcus Foligno and Zach Bogosian scored for the Sabres.
“We played against a team that was fresh, they had a lot of energy, and we played last night and we were not pleased with our performance,” Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. “Guys bounced back and showed a lot of their character and it was an emotional game from both teams and I’m glad for the guys that got rewarded. Big win.”
Ben Scrivens made 41 saves for the win.
“He was great for us,” Byron said. “It’s amazing to have a goalie like that come in and shut the door and make those saves he made. For him, he’s a great pro and he’s ready to play and he gives us a chance to win.”
Robin Lehner took the loss on 19 saves.
In Edmonton, the Oilers’ offense capitalized on the power play and scored four goals en route to a 6-4 win over the St Louis Blues.
“We were getting drilled and quizzed about the power play and we get hot all of a sudden and it goes in the net,” Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. “I thought the power play, it had an all-time high as far as urgency went and it outworked the penalty kill. We weren’t cute, we weren’t fancy. We shot, we got the puck back, we scored on rebounds.”
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (two power-play goals), Mark Letestu (two goals), Leon Draisaitl, and Taylor Hall scored for the Oilers.
Cam Talbot had 23 saves in win over Blues – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“In particular, our net play [on the power play] was really good,” Letestu said. “Pucks were getting to the goalie and we were getting those second and third opportunities. Getting the puck through to the net was the big thing and winning some battles around there for some goals. The way it has gone, we were due for one of these games.”
David Backes (two goals), Jaden Schwartz and Patrik Berglund scored for the Blues.
“Their power play was struggling and we let them breathe a little bit and they got to display all their skill with five that they put in, (including) one that was disallowed,” Backes said. “That’s not us. When we take penalties that we need to take because we’re denying scoring chances or are in desperation, we normally pick each other up and kill those off. Today we took penalties that were less than discipline and they made us pay time and time again.”
Jake Allen had a frustrating night in net and made 21 saves in the loss.
“I think the penalties is a reflection of everything,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “Everything we’re doing is uncharacteristic of discipline with our play and the style of penalties that we’re taking. We’re digging ourselves a hole with the undisciplined play and our undisciplined penalties, it’s a hard way to win hockey games.”
Cam Talbot made 23 saves for the win.
In Vancouver, the visiting Colorado Avalanche got two goals from Mikkel Boedker en route to a 3-1 win over the Canucks.
“We need to play all of them like they are our last game,” said goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who made 28 saves for Colorado. “I feel like playoffs start for us right now.”
Boedker had been cold for the Avs since arriving at the trade deadline.
“I just want to give him some confidence,” Avs coach Patrick Roy said. “My thoughts were he was playing really well and he just needed to play with more confidence and things will turn around for him. I really feel his game is right there and sometimes if you are just more confident around the net things will go your way and I thought that’s what he did tonight.”
Henrik Sedin was the lone Canucks goal scorer.
“We all want to be a difference maker and make good plays and make things happen,” Boedker said. “I think it’s huge for your confidence.”
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