Canadiens 2 - 3 Sabres
Final
  for this game

Vanek looks to keep Sabres offense going vs. Canadiens

Feb 6, 2009 - 11:21 AM Montreal (29-16-6) at Buffalo (27-20-5) 7:30 p.m. EST

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- All-Star Thomas Vanek is one of the top goal-scorers in the NHL. That doesn't mean Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is giving him special treatment.

Ruff's tough love is certainly having an effect on the 25-year-old Austrian.

After joining some elite company with a stellar offensive performance, Vanek tries to lead the Sabres to their second straight win on Friday when they host the Montreal Canadiens.

Vanek has been an offensive force this season but found the back of the net only twice in 10 games heading into Monday's contest against the Anaheim Ducks. The left wing was benched for a significant portion of that contest, a 3-2 loss in regulation, as Ruff became unhappy with his star's play.

Vanek responded on Wednesday, becoming the second player in NHL history to record four straight natural hat tricks as Buffalo skated to a 5-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He scored three consecutive goals bridging the second and third periods to record his fifth career hat trick, joining Cy Denneny, who accomplished the feat with the Ottawa Senators between 1923-24, as the only players in NHL history to record four consecutive natural hat tricks.

Vanek will need to be at his best against the Canadiens, who have won two of their last three games, including a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.








  • NHL
    FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
    --- --- --- -----
    MONTREAL 0 1 1 2
    BUFFALO 0 2 1 3 FINAL
    GOAL SCORING:
    1ST PRD: NONE
    2ND PRD: BUF - JAROSLAV SPACEK 3 (JOCHEN HECHT, PATRICK KALETA) 0:27
    MON - (PP) SAKU KOIVU 9 (MAX PACIORETTY, JOSH GORGES) 10:21
    BUF - NATHAN PAETSCH 2 (ADAM MAIR, MATT ELLIS) 12:16
    3RD PRD: BUF - TIM CONNOLLY 11

    Feb 6 9:59 PM


  • NHL
    MONTREAL 2
    BUFFALO 3
    3RD PRD: MON - ROMAN HAMRLIK 4 (ANDREI KOSTITSYN, MAXIM LAPIERRE)
    16:34

    Canadiens 2, Sabres 3  3rd - 3:26Feb 6 9:51 PM
  • 65
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 60 roots (Close Finish)

    Canadiens 2, Sabres 3  3rd - 3:26Feb 6 9:51 PM


  • NHL
    MONTREAL 1
    BUFFALO 3
    3RD PRD: BUF - TIM CONNOLLY 11 (UNASSISTED) 4:55

    Canadiens 1, Sabres 3  3rd - 15:05Feb 6 9:28 PM


  • NHL
    END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
    --- --- --- -----
    MONTREAL 0 1 1
    BUFFALO 0 2 2 END OF THE 2ND
    GOAL SCORING:
    1ST PRD: NONE
    2ND PRD: BUF - JAROSLAV SPACEK 3 (JOCHEN HECHT, PATRICK KALETA) 0:27
    MON - (PP) SAKU KOIVU 9 (MAX PACIORETTY, JOSH GORGES) 10:21
    BUF - NATHAN PAETSCH 2 (ADAM MAIR, MATT ELLIS) 12:16
    SHOTS ON GOAL:

    Feb 6 9:02 PM


  • NHL
    MONTREAL 1
    BUFFALO 2
    2ND PRD: BUF - NATHAN PAETSCH 2 (ADAM MAIR) 12:16

    Canadiens 1, Sabres 2  2nd - 7:44Feb 6 8:48 PM


  • NHL
    MONTREAL 1
    BUFFALO 1
    2ND PRD: MON - (PP) SAKU KOIVU 9 (JOSH GORGES) 10:21

    Canadiens 1, Sabres 1  2nd - 9:39Feb 6 8:46 PM


  • NHL
    MONTREAL 0
    BUFFALO 1
    2ND PRD: BUF - JAROSLAV SPACEK 3 (JOCHEN HECHT, PATRICK KALETA) 0:27

    Canadiens 0, Sabres 1  2nd - 19:33Feb 6 8:29 PM


  • NHL
    END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
    --- --- --- -----
    MONTREAL 0 0
    BUFFALO 0 0 END OF THE 1ST
    GOAL SCORING:
    1ST PRD: NONE
    SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
    --- --- --- -----
    MON 15 15
    BUF 5 5
    GOALIES: MON - CAREY PRICE
    BUF - RYAN MILLER

    Feb 6 8:09 PM
  • 5
    roots
    mrman226 Added 5 roots

    Canadiens vs. SabresFeb 6 6:53 AM

Related News