Canadiens Beat the Sabres 4-3: What Did We Learn?

The Montreal Canadiens found a way to win again, and at this point in the season, there's something to be said for that. On Tuesday night, Montreal built a two-goal lead against the Buffalo Sabres, watched it disappear in the third period, and still came away with a 4-3 shootout victory.

Zachary Bolduc played the hero for the second straight game, scoring the decisive shootout goal. That's becoming a nice habit for a player, giving Canadiens fans another reason to pay attention. But this game was about more than Bolduc's shootout finish.

Lane Hutson Is Still Finding Ways to Surprise Us.

Hutson had a goal and an assist, and his second-period play was a joy to watch. After scoring on a two-man advantage in the first period, he showed off his creativity by stickhandling in from the blue line before slipping a no-look backhand pass to Josh Anderson. Anderson did the rest, firing the puck into an open net.

That's the kind of play that reminds us Hutson isn't just putting up points. He's seeing things other players might not see, and he's finding ways to create opportunities for his teammates.

Cole Caufield also scored and added an assist, while Juraj Slafkovsky picked up two assists. When those three are creating offence together, the Canadiens can be a pretty entertaining team to watch. And that's encouraging for Habs fans.

The Canadiens Won Ugly, But Those Wins Count, Too.

Montreal didn't make this easy on itself. The Canadiens led 3-1 late in the second period, but Buffalo scored twice in just over a minute early in the third to tie the game. Suddenly, a game that looked to be under control was anybody's to win.

That's something Montreal will want to look at. Giving away a two-goal lead isn't ideal, particularly against a Buffalo team missing captain Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres found ways to create chances, and the Canadiens couldn't quite close the door in regulation.

Still, Jacob Fowler made 14 saves in his third straight start, and Montreal found a way to get the extra point. Fowler had stopped 30 shots in Saturday's 1-0 win over Detroit, so the young goaltender has now been part of two consecutive victories. And Bolduc? He delivered again when the game was on the line.

What Did We Learn About the Canadiens?

Maybe the biggest lesson is that the Canadiens are finding different ways to win. Sometimes it's a shutout, sometimes it's a shootout, and sometimes it's a game that gets a little messier than anyone planned.

They'll need to protect leads better, but there's value in learning how to win when everything doesn't go according to plan. For now, Montreal has two straight victories and a few young players giving fans plenty to talk about. I'll take that. There's still work to do, but it's a lot more enjoyable to work on things after a win.