Sabres fall to Canadiens in shootout, gain in wild card race

BUFFALO – The Buffalo Sabres gained ground in the Eastern Conference wild card race when they lost 4-3 in a shootout against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center on Monday. 

Lukas Rousek had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut, and Eric Comrie made 38 saves for the Sabres (35-31-7), who have lost five of seven (2-3-2) but moved within five points of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the East.

Buffalo led 3-2 in the third period before Brendan Gallagher tied it for Montreal at 8:35.

“We battle hard every single night,” Comrie said. “I respect the [heck] out of these guys. They work hard every single night. They truly give it their all. I love playing for these guys. It’s unfortunate. That’s a tough one to swallow tonight. That’s a really tough pill to swallow.” 

Video: MTL@BUF: Gallagher fires a wrister in to tie it up

Jake Allen made 30 saves for his first victory since Feb. 28, and Jordan Harris and Alex Belzile also scored for the Canadiens (30-38-6), who have won three of four. Michael Pezzetta scored the deciding goal in the sixth round of the shootout.

Gallagher tied it 3-3 with his 200th NHL goal from the top of the right face-off circle. 

“We were down a goal going into the third,” Gallagher said. “I thought we had a pretty good push. We had some chances from a lot of lines. Puck ended up on my stick in a good spot to shoot it, and it went in. It’s one of those things, I think we earned that chance. We weren’t fantastic, but we did enough on the road tonight to get a win.”

Harris gave Montreal a 1-0 lead at 1:22 of the first period. After Comrie stopped Harris’ shot from low in the left circle, the defenseman continued to the net and poked in the loose puck.

Rousek tied it 1-1 at 3:49 with his first NHL goal on a quick wrist shot on a rebound. Tyson Jost’s shot from above the right circle hit the end boards and bounced to Rousek at the other side of the net.

“He’s got a feel for the game,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “Obviously, he knows us, he knows our systems, he knows what he’s doing. He’s a hockey player. Very good game.”

Video: MTL@BUF: Rousek buries it in his 1st NHL game

Belzile put Montreal ahead 2-1 at 4:28 of the second period, faking a slap shot from the right circle before skating in for a sharp angle shot that beat Comrie in the far corner.

“I faked a shot to begin with so, often, the goalie drops,” Belzile said. “It’s been years that I’ve been working with goalie coaches and the goalie coach in Laval (of the AHL) has told me that the fake shot is everything. When you listen, you learn.”

JJ Peterka tied it 2-2 on the power play at 5:49, banking a shot from below the goal line off Allen’s right shoulder.

“I saw he was down, and I’ve tried it in the past a couple times,” Peterka said. “I’m happy it went in today.”

Riley Stillman gave Buffalo a 3-2 lead at 8:31 when he drew Allen out of the net and skated to the doorstep before slipping the puck in. It was his first goal in 48 games.

“We had a good start, but after that, we were a bit flat,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We were too cute in the neutral zone; we took two penalties. It’s tough to get into the game. In the second and third, we played more of our game. … I liked the way we corrected ourselves, it’s a sign of maturity, and the way we stayed on task.

“We were patient and we got some good saves from Jake. … I’m happy with the sign of maturity from the team to be able to correct within the game and get the two points.”

Video: MTL@BUF: Pezzetta secures shootout victory for Habs

NOTES: Gallagher is the 25th player to score 200 goals with Montreal. … Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki had his four-game point streak end (two goals, eight assists). … Rousek, who played 9:03 and had one shot on goal, is the fifth Sabres player in the past 10 years to score in his NHL debut. He is one of seven players in Buffalo history with multiple points in his first NHL game, and the first since Maxim Afinogenov had a goal and an assist on Nov. 10, 1999. … Peterka has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past nine games.