Canadiens 2 - 0 Sabres
Final
  for this game

Tokarski posts first NHL shutout as Canadiens blank Sabres

Mar 17, 2014 - 4:12 AM Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Dustin Tokarski made 29 saves for his first NHL shutout and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 on Sunday.

Tokarski, playing in his 10th NHL game, stopped nine shots each in the first two periods and had 11 saves in the third as Montreal won its second straight game on the heels of a three-game losing streak.

"The main thing is the two points," Tokarski said. "It was just a little icing on the cake with the shutout."

Dale Weise and Brendan Gallagher scored against Sabres starter Jhonas Enroth, who left the game after 36 minutes with what the team said was a lower-body injury.

Nathan Lieuwen, recalled on Sunday from Buffalo's AHL affiliate in Rochester, made his NHL debut in relief of Enroth and stopped 10 shots despite playing for the third straight day.

The Canadiens snapped a two-game road losing streak and earned their fourth straight win over Buffalo. They have points in nine of their last 10 games against the Sabres (6-1-3) and have won all three meetings this season.

Buffalo's losing streak reached six games and its home skid was extended to three. The Sabres have been shut out twice on their losing streak and have just five goals in the six games.

"We need to get out of this funk and keep playing hard," said defenseman Jamie McBain.

All of the game's scoring came during a 1 minute and 28 second stretch in the first period.

Weise's fourth goal of the season got Montreal on the board at the 14:41 mark. The puck, bouncing into the crease after David Desharnais threw a backhand on net, hit off Weise's skate in the crease.

The play was reviewed and upheld as a goal.

Gallagher's 17th of the season was knocked in by Buffalo defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, who was near the crease when Enroth let a rebound get away from him.

Game Notes

Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play ... The Canadiens will return home to play Colorado on Tuesday ... The Sabres will start a five-game road trip on Tuesday at Calgary.






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