Period 1
What a start for Buffalo. I talked in pregame about big time players finding a way to get on the scoresheet even with injuries. Tage Thompson took full advantage of a bounce off the back boards that popped to the side of the net. Wide open cage welcomed the deposit and Tage has the Sabres up 1-0 just under a minute into the game. The slump was busted early, taking the crowd right out of the game.
The pace of the game is hot. Great opportunities for Suzuki and Caufield, but the Lyon King shut the door. Norris took an interference call just 7:42 into the period putting Montreal a man up. The crowd is back into the game; they can sense that this could be the momentum swing Montreal needs right now. Newhook has a Grade A chance, but Lyon is standing tall. Lyon knows he is battling for his net in this game. Buffalo stands tall on a good penalty kill, nothing really going for Montreal other than the Newhook chance.
The hatred between teams is bubbling up. At 11:47 into the period both Josh Doan and Alex Newhook are sent off for roughing and we have 4 on 4 hockey early. Montreal having a great 4 on 4 and Lyon has made 2 Grade A saves on Danault and Suzuki. Buffalo cannot keep giving up these looks if they have a chance to win this game.
One guy that has been all over the ice is Alex Newhook. Newhook buries Evans's rebound, finally cracking Lyon with 4:29 left in the first. The hatred continues and Montreal keeps buzzing Lyon's crease. As they push, punch and whack each other, Bolduc lands on Lyon. Two minor penalties are given to Zach Bolduc and one minor to Conor Timmins with 1:16 left in the 1st. Montreal survives the final minute push from Buffalo. Teams start to fight at the sound of the horn, Rasmus Dahlin picking up a roughing penalty right at the end of the 1st. We are heading to more 4 on 4 hockey to start the 2nd period.
Period 2
We start 4 on 4, looking at more room for stars to make a play. The 4 on 4 ends and Montreal has just over a minute on the powerplay. Caufield couldn't bury on a wide-open net. Things are just not bouncing the right way for Caufield.
Buffalo and Montreal are gripping the stick hard as no one wants to make that mistake. Josh Doan is being aggressive on the forecheck but reaches in on Cole Caufield, tripping and sending him to the box. Can Caufield convert on his drawn penalty? After a broken stick for Buffalo, Montreal has great pressure but the Sabres are laying out to block every shot.
Hutson drives the net, makes a beautiful pass to Caufield and he gets on the board. It's 2-1 Montreal with 14 minutes left in the 2nd period. The Montreal fans are chanting for Alex Lyon.
A scramble seems to go in for Phillip Danault but the refs wave off the goal as Danault may have pushed in Lyon's pad. I was a bit surprised they did not review that one, but we play on at 2-1 for Montreal. Montreal has a strong shot advantage 22-14 at the 10 minute mark of the 2nd period. Lyon is keeping Buffalo in this one.
Logan Stanley has a bad backhand pass trying to break into the Montreal zone and turnovers at the opposition blueline are always a bad sign. Veleno rushes down the ice, delays and finds a wide open Bolduc in the slot and he makes no mistake. 3-1 Montreal with 9:17 left in the 2nd period. The vibes are high in Montreal right now and the Habs are rolling.
How do you stop momentum? Run the goalie. Right out of the Florida Panthers playbook. Malenstyn runs into Dobes with no attempt to slow down. Montreal ends up with a powerplay and the building is ready to explode. Like a good storyline, Slaf tips in a Hutson shot from the point and they are partying in the Bell Centre. 4-1 Montreal.
Buffalo needs to wake up. Kirby Dach takes a penalty at 14:30 putting Buffalo on the powerplay. Just like that Dahlin gets a shot through traffic and Buffalo scores. 4-2 and Buffalo has life.
Right after, Veleno goes hard into Lyon but no call. Tuch on a hard forecheck high sticks Slafkovsky sending Montreal to its 5th powerplay on the night. Montreal has great pressure, but Demidov rings a one timer off the crossbar. Buffalo survives and we are heading to the 3rd period with Montreal leading 4-2.
Period 3
Buffalo needed to get to the net early and kill the party atmosphere at the Bell Centre, and they had the jump to start the third. But like Game 2, Montreal sat back, stayed disciplined and kept the Sabres to the outside. Hutson got caught in no man's land and took a hooking penalty on Malenstyn just 4:22 in.
Buffalo's ensuing power play was arguably their best of the series with great zone time and excellent puck control, but Dobes covered up on Benson's back-door chance and the Sabres couldn't beat him. The Bell Centre roared after the kill.
Dobes continued to stand tall, turning away multiple Grade A looks from Benson. Then, right after a big save, Montreal caught Buffalo on a 2-on-1. Lyon made the stop but the loose puck found Dach, who made no mistake. Three goal lead, halfway through the third.
A scrum in front led to a Guhle high-sticking call and Buffalo's power play looked dangerous again. The Sabres pulled the goalie with 5:50 left but Montreal's PK held firm with active sticks and no soft passes through the middle. The Dach goal had the crowd, and the penalty killers locked in.
Then Newhook sealed it. He beat Dahlin down the ice, hit the post, but Dahlin hooked him on the way and the goal was awarded. The building erupted. Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye.
Some rough stuff followed but no gloves dropped. The refs restored order, Montreal ran out a final power play and Dobes got a standing ovation. The Sabres killed it off, but it didn't matter. Montreal wins 6-2 and takes a 2-1 series lead, the first time they've won back-to-back games this playoff run.
Game finals
- Final: Montreal 6, Buffalo 2
- Series: Montreal leads 2-1
- Shots: Buffalo 28, Montreal 36
- Faceoffs: Buffalo 23, Montreal 38
- Hits: Buffalo 19, Montreal 24
- Powerplay: Buffalo 1/4, Montreal 2/6