Foligno, Kane score twice in Sabres' 6-4 win over Canadiens
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Marcus Foligno scored twice, including once on a penalty shot, and the Buffalo Sabres hung on to snap a four-game skid by beating the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 on Friday night.
Foligno also had an assist for a career-best three points. Evander Kane scored twice, including an empty-netter with 55 seconds left, while Josh Gorges and David Legwand also scored for Buffalo. The Sabres nearly squandered a 4-1 lead, but won at home for just the second time in their past 11 (2-7-2).
Alex Galchenyuk and rookie Sven Andrighetto scored two goals apiece for Montreal. The Canadiens had a three-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 1-5-1 in their past seven road games.
It was a tough night for goaltenders.
Buffalo's Chad Johnson allowed four goals on 30 shots. Johnson, however, did come up big in the opening minutes of the third period, when he got his arm up to foil Tomas Fleischmann, who was set up in front.
Ben Scrivens started for Montreal, but was chased 1:28 into the second period after giving up three goals on eight shots. Mike Condon took the loss after allowing two goals on 13 shots.
Foligno got his penalty shot goal with 2:19 left into the second period to put Buffalo ahead 5-3. He was in alone on Condon before being hauled down from behind by Galchenyuk.
On the penalty shot, Foligno faded to the right wing and then drove in on net to beat Condon with a shot just under the crossbar.
It was Buffalo's second penalty shot attempt of the season after Kane was stopped in a 2-1 win at Arizona on Jan. 18. It was the Sabres' second goal scored in its past seven attempts, dating to the 2011-12 season.
The Sabres snapped an 0-2-2 skid that began after their 4-2 win at Montreal on Feb. 3.
Buffalo was also playing on consecutive nights, following a 5-1 loss at Philadelphia.
The Canadiens were the more rested team, following a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
It was a sloppy back-and-forth game in which the teams combined to score six goals in the second period.
The Sabres burst out to a 4-1 lead on Foligno's first goal scored 2:18 into the second period. Philip Varone, who was called up from the minors earlier in the day, set up the goal. Varone circled the net and had his centering pass go in off Foligno on the first shot faced by Condon.
The Canadiens cut the lead to 4-3 on goals 2:01 apart by Galchenyuk and Andrighetto, who snapped his shot into an open side after intercepting Johnson's clearing attempt.
After Foligno scored on the penalty shot, Galchenyuk scored his second power-play goal with 22 seconds left in the second period.
NOTES: Canadiens D P.K. Subban had a hand in each of Montreal's past 12 power-play goals before the streak ended on Galchenyuk's first goal with the man advantage. The 12-goal streak was one shy of matching the franchise record set by Jean Beliveau in 1962-63. ... The Sabres placed rookie C Daniel Catenacci on IR and called up forward Philip Varone from AHL Rochester. Catenacci was being evaluated for a concussion after being hurt in 5-1 loss at Philadelphia on Thursday. ... Sabres D Mark Pysyk was a healthy scratch, and remains one short of playing his 100th career NHL game. ... In an odd turn of events, the Sabres public address announcer referred to Buffalo rookie first-round draft pick Jack Eichel (pronounced: "Aye-kel") as "Ick-el," in crediting him with an assist.