3 takeaways from the Buffalo Sabres' 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens

It was a special night at KeyBank Center as the franchise recognized and honored the 2005-06 Sabres, a team that fans still talk about to this day. It feels like this Sabres team is one that could be recognized 20 years from now, just like their predecessors.

The Sabres were coming off a dominant win against the Philadelphia Flyers were able to get right back at it with the second half of a back-to-back. This time, against the Montreal Canadiens, who are currently ahead of them in the Atlantic Division standings, the Sabres responded every time it looked like Montreal might take control of the game.

Neither team really gave up much, and Tage Thompson's empty net goal at the end of the third period was the first time all night that either team had more than a one-goal lead. This was an impressive win and the Sabres continue to stake their claim of being a playoff contender as they have now won 15 of their past 17 games.

Tage Thompson's big night helped power the Sabres

It was a big night for the Sabres' top forward as Tage Thompson was a part of every goal they scored against the Montreal Canadiens, with three goals and two assists. He got the scoring started early on a power play goal that helped tie the game back up at one after Cole Caufield scored the first goal of the game.

After that, he had the primary assists on the goals by Josh Doan and Alex Tuch before scoring two goals in the third period, including the empty net goal to seal the win.

Thompson also reached a career milestone with the performance tonight as he would score his 200th career goal. This was an impressive performance that the Sabres needed to secure the win.

Sabres found a way to win with Colten Ellis having an off night

During this recent stretch of games, the Sabres have gotten some pretty strong games in nets from their goaltenders, whether that was Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, or Colten Ellis. On Thursday, in the second half of a back-to-back, the Sabres went with Ellis, who was trying to bounce back from a subpar game in the loss to the Florida Panthers.

The good news is that the Sabres were able to get the win but it was another lackluster performance from Ellis. He finished the game saving 20 of 23 shots and the goals he did let in probably should have been saved.

Over the course of the game, Ellis didn't seem to be in the flow and wasn't confident in the crease. In the third period, he nearly made a colossal mistake when he skated out halfway to the blue line to try and clear the puck but the Canadiens were able to steal it.

Fortunately, Ellis got back, alongside two Sabres skaters to clog up the net and not allow Montreal to capitalize.

The Sabres are once again probably going to be facing a decision at the position once Alex Lyon is ready to return. At this point, Ellis might be the odd man out.

Buffalo Sabres show they can win these back-and-forth contests

For most of the win streak and the now five games since then, when the Sabres score first, they usually can build a big lead and then hold on to secure the win. However, in the games they have lost, it is their opponent scoring first, and the Sabres struggle to win back the momentum.

In the loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Blue Jackets scored first and had a 3-1 lead before the end of the first period. A similar situation happened against the Florida Panthers where they scored first and had the lead by the end of the first period.

The game against Florida was a little more back and forth than the one in Columbus, but the Panthers pulled away in the third period. On Thursday night, neither team really looked to be in complete control of the game as it was tied at two after the first period, and then tied at three after the second period.

However, the Sabres showed in the third period that they could take the game over with Tage Thompson's goal early in the period to get the lead. They were then able to hold it until the empty net goal.

As the Sabres continue to make the case that they are serious playoff contenders, these types of games are going to be important for them to build the confidence that they can play with anyone in this league.