Montreal Canadiens Sweep Buffalo Sabres for Fifth Straight Win

Image credits: NHL

The Montreal Canadiens are making a strong push for a playoff spot, and their recent performance is making it difficult for management to consider trading away assets. With their 4-3 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, the Canadiens have secured their fifth straight victory and are now only one point behind a playoff spot. The team's success can be attributed to the outstanding play of Nick Suzuki, who had a four-point night, including a goal and three assists.

Suzuki's performance has been impressive, especially considering his exhaustion before the break, where he had only one point in his last six games. However, after a two-week rest, Suzuki has been playing the best hockey of his career, with 13 points in the five games after the Four Nations event. His goal on Monday was his 19th of the year, and he now has 65 points in 61 games, making him a strong candidate to become the first point-per-game player for the Canadiens since Alex Kovalev in 2008.

The Canadiens' win was also fueled by the play of Lane Hutson, who had two assists and continues to make a strong case for the Calder Trophy. Hutson's partnership with Jayden Struble has been a key factor in his success, despite playing on his off-side. The team's power play was also effective, with Cole Caufield scoring a power-play goal and Juraj Slafkovsky adding another goal with the man-advantage.

The Canadiens' upcoming schedule includes a four-game road trip, starting with a game against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. The team's management will have to make some tough decisions before the trading deadline, but with their current winning streak, it's clear that the players are sending a message that they want to make a push for the playoffs. The team's fans are also excited about the future, with prospects like Michael Hage, who is having a phenomenal freshman college season at Michigan University, expected to join the team in the near future.

Here are the match scores between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres:

• Nov. 11 @ BUF: 7-5 MTL
• Dec. 17 vs. BUF: 6-1 MTL
• Mar. 1 @ BUF: 4-2 MTL
• Mar. 3 vs. BUF: 4-3 MTL (OT)

The Canadiens' player statistics are also impressive, with Nick Suzuki leading the team in points and Cole Caufield leading in goals. The team's power play and penalty kill have also been effective, with a 21.5% power play percentage and an 82% penalty kill percentage.

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