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Sabres Game 51: Lehner wins it because Condon loses it February 4, 2016

Despite a rough second period last night, Robin Lehner was in it for the whole game and the Sabres brought home a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres scored 1 goal in the first and 3 (including an empty-netter by Brian Gionta) in the third to come back from a 2-1 deficit.

Peter Llewellyn, USA Today Sports, Photo

Lehner notched a save percentage of .943, saving 33 of 35 shots on the night. Montreal’s first goal came at 03:19 of the second, 1:08 into a Johann Larsen hooking penalty; it was the first time this season that Lehner allowed a power play goal. The team is 2-4 on the season in Lehner’s starts.

Montreal goalie Mike Condon seemed to lose equilibrium in the third; he faced 10 shots and allowed two goals. In the first two periods, he saved 20 of 21. Condon is 13-15-4 in starts, and the Canadiens are 1-2 in games where he’s come in to relieve Carey Price or Dustin Tokarski. Condon is 4-4 in overtime games, with one of those losses coming in a shootout, so he doesn’t seem to be a guy who gets exhausted and crumbles; he may have just had a nasty period.

The Sabres host Boston tonight; the Bruins have won their last three road games. Lehner will likely start against Tuuka Rask. Boston backup Jonas Gustavsson was placed on the injured reserve list with heart problems on February 1; the Bruins called up Malcolm Subban to serve as backup while Gustavsson is injured, but I’d be surprised to see the 22-year-old Subban (5.76 GAA in one career game) called on to start.