Sabres Defeat Canadiens to Clinch Playoff Spot

When Buffalo’s Curtis Brown stole the puck behind the Montreal goal and launched it toward the Montreal net, he didn’t care which of his teammates touched it as long as it led to a goal.

No one else got hold of the puck--but the backhand shot made it past Montreal goalie Andy Moog anyway to cap Buffalo’s 2-1 victory Friday at Buffalo, N.Y., and clinch a playoff spot for the Sabres.

“I walked out in front and just threw the puck at the net. It didn’t matter who got it, we needed it,” Brown said.

Buffalo moved into a tie with Boston for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Canadiens are seventh.

Donald Audette tied the score, 1-1, with 4:54 to play when he stole the puck from Montreal defenseman Vladimir Malakhov in front of Moog and slid the puck between the goalie’s legs.

The Sabre winger said he didn’t plan the goal the way it happened. “I kind of lost it,” Audette said. “I wanted to go to my backhand and lost the puck and it went through his pads.”