Markov, Canadiens wallop Sabres for 8th straight win

Andrei Markov notched five points and Torrey Mitchell scored the eventual game-winning goal as the Montreal Canadiens kept their perfect start alive with a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

Markov scored a goal and added four assists, goaltender Mike Condon stopped 32 of 34 shots, and both P.K. Subban and Tomas Plekanec chipped in three assists apiece as Montreal won its eight consecutive game, improving to 8-0-0.

Mitchell deflected Subban's shot midway through the second period to give Montreal a 3-2 lead, and the Canadiens tacked on two power-play insurance markers courtesy of Markov and Brendan Gallagher.

Max Pacioretty scored his sixth goal of the season on a wrist shot to put the game out of reach, and Dale Weise deflected a shot for his second goal of the game to make it 7-2 late in the third period.

Buffalo rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to tie the contest before surrendering five unanswered goals and falling to 2-5-0. Matt Moulson and Ryan O'Reilly scored for the Sabres.