"Even after winning consecutive games for the first time in 11 weeks, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff left Montreal shaking his head at Buffalo's bad luck.

The Sabres used a 40-shot barrage to earn a 3-1 victory over Montreal, giving them back-to-back victories for the first time since Nov. 11. Thomas Vanek, though, wasn't around to celebrate. The Sabres' leading goal scorer suffered an upper-body injury in the first period Tuesday. He played a regular shift, including the final one of the frame, but didn't return for the second."