The Buffalo Sabres' two-game winning streak came to an end on Monday night, as they fell to the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 4-2. Despite the loss, there are several takeaways from the game that can be further examined.

Lyon's Strong Performance Continues

Goaltender Alex Lyon continued his strong play, keeping the Sabres in the game despite a slow start from the team. The Canadiens outshot the Sabres 14-6 in the first period, and Lyon's performance prevented Montreal from gaining a significant lead. He ended the game with 27 saves on 30 shots. This marks a consistent trend, as Lyon has been a standout player for the Sabres early in the season.

Kulich's Resurgence

Jiri Kulich is showing signs of improvement after a slow start to the season. After being moved down to the fourth line during a practice, Kulich responded with a goal against the Senators and followed that up with another goal against the Canadiens. Kulich tied the game 1-1 in the second period, showcasing skill by winning a puck battle and converting a backhand shot. The Sabres need Kulich to maintain this level of play, especially while he is playing on the top line. Zach Benson assisted on Kulich's goal, giving him six assists in three games after recovering from an injury that kept him out at the beginning of the season.

Struggles from Key Players

Despite the team's overall improvement, the Sabres need more offensive output from their star players, Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson. While both have four points in six games, their goal production is a concern. They have only combined for two goals during that span. With the Sabres already having concerns about their offense coming into the season, Tuch and Thompson need to start producing at their expected rates for the Sabres to find consistent success. Thompson finished the game with a -2 rating.

The Canadiens ultimately proved too much for the Sabres. Oliver Kapanen opened the scoring for Montreal, with Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, and Jake Evans also finding the back of the net. Jakub Dobes made 30 saves for the Canadiens and was named the game's third star. The Sabres will look to bounce back as they host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. The Canadiens will head to Calgary to take on the Flames.