BUFFALO, N.Y., March 8 (UPI) -- Martin Biron stopped 26 shots for his second straight shutout and Chris Gratton and J.P. Dumont scored first-period goals Friday night as the Buffalo Sabres recorded a 3-0 blanking of the listless Montreal Canadiens.
Since holding a 35-minute closed-door meeting following Monday's home loss to Edmonton, the Sabres have not allowed a goal. Biron also made 26 saves in Thursday's 5-0 road win over the New York Islanders and smothered Montreal to become the first Buffalo goaltender other than Dominik Hasek to post consecutive shutouts since Tom Barrasso in 1984.
Defenseman Brian Campbell had the other goal for the Sabres, who climbed within four points of the Canadiens and New York Rangers for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. They had not recorded back-to-back victories since Jan. 25-27.
Jose Theodore stopped 34 shots for Montreal, which has lost five of its last eight games.
