The building was rocking and the stage was set in Montreal for this to be an all-time game. Buffalo made some major changes to lines, as Lindy Ruff broke up the Krebs/Thompson/Tuch line and split up Benson and Doan. The Tuch line was getting killed 5 on 5 and did not generate anything positive game to game. It does seem like a desperation move from the Head Coach of Buffalo. Schenn is out of the lineup for Zach Metsa. This is Metsa's first playoff game and he is coming into an elimination game.
Montreal is keeping everything the same as they are coming into this game off one of their best performances in the playoffs. In the pregame I mentioned that Demidov is going to have a pep in his step after scoring his first of the playoffs last game.
Period 1
It was like watching a re-run of the last two games. Buffalo scores 32 seconds in off a sweet move by Dahlin, giving Buffalo the lead early in the first. Montreal fans wouldn't let the Canadiens feel the pressure as they kept the cheering, chants, and energy at a fever pitch. Jake Evans wins an offensive zone draw at 1:35, and Xhekaj's quick release catches Lyon sleeping in net. We are tied 1-1 just 1:40 into the first.
This seems to be the way Montreal keeps playing these games, they get scored on quick and then ignite in a flurry of goals. Montreal was putting all the pressure on Buffalo, who looked shell shocked from allowing such a quick response three straight games. At 12:37 in the first, Norris takes a roughing penalty when getting tangled up with Alex Newhook, sending Montreal's deadly powerplay onto the ice for the first time.
On the powerplay the young guns were snapping the puck around the zone waiting for the perfect cross-ice pass. Lane Hutson found Demidov on the far-right faceoff dot, and Demidov made no mistake roofing the one-timer off one knee. The building exploded. Montreal's stars had shown up again and Buffalo stays with the trend of taking bad penalties.
While the building was rocking, the energy flew into Montreal's legs and heads. Phillip Danault lost body positioning on a forechecking Josh Norris, leading to a hooking penalty and giving Buffalo a chance to get back into the hockey game. Montreal does a great job keeping the Buffalo powerplay on the outside and forcing turnovers. Matheson wins a board battle springing Jake Evans and Josh Anderson on a 2-on-1 shorthanded. Evans coming down the right side finds a hole under Lyon's arm, giving Montreal a 3-1 lead. Lyon has now let in three goals on three shots and finds himself on the bench as Lindy Ruff turns to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to be their savior.
Dahlin got tangled up with Dobes, leading to a little cross-check from Dahlin and a big slash back from Dobes. Both were sent off, but the way Dobes is playing with the Sabres is something you rarely see from a goalie. It also seems to get him into the game.
At 11:47 in the first period, Mike Matheson gets a little too aggressive in front of the net, catching Josh Norris with a high stick that resulted in blood. On the ensuing powerplay Buffalo scores on the second half of the double minor. A nice feed from Josh Norris finds Jason Zucker driving to the net, beating Anderson to the front. The game is now 3-2 Montreal and momentum seemed to shift to the Buffalo end.
The chaos settles for the next stretch of the period, but things are getting chippy. Josh Norris hooks Lane Hutson well behind play and both go off. Hutson for embellishment and Norris for tripping. Montreal is winning every board battle but cannot find a way through Buffalo's defense.
Period 2
Puck drops and Buffalo already looks much better. Just one minute into the period, Zach Benson buries a rebound off a shot from Byram. The game is tied 3-3 and the Bell Centre is stunned. Buffalo found their legs and are dominating early. We saw this in Game 5 as well, but Montreal was able to grab momentum back then. Buffalo is not letting off the gas with their season on the line.
Seven minutes into the period, the momentum got to the Buffalo bench as they were caught with six men on the ice for about ten seconds. They get called for too many men, sending Montreal back to the powerplay. Buffalo killed it with ease, making sure Montreal did not grab the momentum of the period.
Buffalo kept coming and Montreal did not have any answers. Carrier had to take an interference penalty to stop a clean 2-on-1 for the Sabres. On the powerplay, Jack Quinn ripped it from just outside the circle, beating Dobes cleanly. Dobes will want that one back. Buffalo now leads 4-3 and the Bell Centre goes quiet.
Two minutes after the Quinn goal, the Sabres converted a hard-working 2-on-1 with Zucker and Konsta Helenius. Zucker with a great feed across Xhekaj's stick to Helenius, who makes no mistake. It is now 5-3 Buffalo with seven minutes left in the second. Montreal is searching for answers.
Alex Tuch gets caught reaching at 4:55 left in the second, hooking Matheson as he drove wide. On the powerplay Montreal looked deadly but could not find the back of the net. As the penalty ended the puck drifted out to Alex Tuch on a breakaway. Dobes shut the door and the Sabres are still waiting for Tuch to enter this series. Buffalo erupted in the second period scoring three times, setting the stage for a pivotal third.
Period 3
Montreal enters the third period without much momentum, staring at a two-goal deficit. Buffalo comes out playing defensive, dumping every puck out and waiting for mistakes. Montreal is struggling to get any pressure in the offensive zone and when they do dump it in, they are now losing every puck battle. Buffalo continues to get odd-man chances off poor pinches from the Montreal defense.
Anderson fumbles the puck in the neutral zone, leading to a partial breakaway for Zach Benson. Anderson tried to catch up but in the process takes a slashing penalty, putting Montreal down a man with just 11 minutes left. The Sabres powerplay has been much improved over the series and they continue that success with a beautiful short-side shot from Jack Quinn. Quinn nets his second of the game and takes all the air out of the Bell Centre.
With seven minutes left, Montreal pulls the goalie to try and spark a comeback. They have great control but cannot break the structure of the Sabres defense. With just 5:48 left, Tage Thompson wins the puck battle along the boards in the defensive end and finds the back of the net from 180 feet away. It is 7-3 Buffalo and the Montreal fans are heading for the exits.
Buffalo's stars finally showed up and dominated Montreal from the second period on. Both Dahlin and Thompson ended the game with four points each (one goal, three assists) and Jack Quinn had three points (two goals and one assist). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shut the door after entering the game, stopping all 17 shots he faced.
Montreal took some anger out late but it led to penalties. On the powerplay, Metsa scores off a shot from the point, giving Buffalo an 8-3 lead. Metsa came into this elimination game, the first playoff game of his career, and found the scoresheet. The line shuffling from Lindy Ruff paid off.
Buffalo wins Game 6 in dominant fashion, 8-3.
By the numbers
- Shots: Buffalo 36, Montreal 21
- Faceoffs: Buffalo 60.7%, Montreal 39.3%
- Power play: Buffalo 4/6 (67%), Montreal 1/3 (33%)
- Blocks: Buffalo 18, Montreal 9
- Hits: Buffalo 19, Montreal 28