Following a missed opportunity on the powerplay to regain the lead, Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, visibly frustrated, engaged in his inaugural NHL fight with Sabres' Connor Clifton.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, as Slafkovsky skated back to the Canadiens' bench after leaving Buffalo's zone, Clifton gave the former first-overall pick a tap on the backside, eliciting an immediate response.
In the ensuing tussle near the Sabres' glass, Slafkovsky seized Clifton, leading to a series of pushes and shoves before both players dropped their gloves. The Sabres' defenseman managed to land a couple of shots on the Canadiens forward before they were separated and escorted to the penalty box.
