BUF@MTL: Game recap

MONTREAL -- The Canadiens were dealt a 5-3 loss by the Sabres on Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre.

The Sabres opened the scoring just 3:41 into the first period when Jeff Skinner re-directed a shot from defenseman Casey Fitzgerald past goaltender Sam Montembeault.
It was Skinner's 17th goal of the season.
Buffalo led 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Newcomer Andrew Hammond, who was acquired from Minnesota on Saturday, was backing up Montembeault and watching his new team at work.

It was also a milestone contest for Jake Evans, who was playing his 100th career NHL game.
The 25-year-old University of Notre Dame grad has certainly enjoyed a good start to his tenure in Montreal.

There were five goals to report in the second period.
Mike Hoffman tied things up only 71 seconds into the frame when he blasted a one-timer past goaltender Craig Anderson.
Hoffman's eighth goal of the year was assisted by Corey Schueneman and Paul Byron.

The Sabres answered back nine minutes later on Skinner's second goal of the game, before Jeff Petry wired a slapshot that beat Anderson to tie the score 2-2.
Petry's second goal of the season came 58 seconds after Skinner lit the lamp.
Evans and Rem Pitlick collected the assists on the sequence.

Joel Armia put the Canadiens up 3-2 with his second goal of the campaign at the 16:09 mark of the stanza.
Ryan Poehling and Brett Kulak were credited with helpers.

But, Buffalo struck back on the power play courtesy of Tage Thompson, who found the back of the net with 1:36 left before the break.
It was 3-3 heading into the third period.
Skinner completed his hat trick with a tally at the 8:16 mark of the stanza, before adding his fourth goal of the afternoon with 1:46 left in regulation.
That's the way this one finished.
Up next for the Canadiens is a matchup against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night at the Bell Centre.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. ET.