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After a rather uneven first four games from both teams, this second-round series shifted back to Buffalo as a best-of-three series got underway at KeyBank Center on Thursday night. The Habs looked to once again take a series lead, a feat they had failed to accomplish only once in these playoffs. To get there, one would think they needed a better start and to play disciplined hockey.

They started horribly but did play more disciplined. With the game looking dire after 25 minutes, a Lane Hutson play changed the game’s momentum and the Habs never looked back as they skated away with a 6-3 win and a chance to close out the series at home on Saturday. 

Habs Lineup

Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook – Jake Evans — Ivan Demidov
Alexandre Texier – Phillip Danault – Josh Anderson
Zach Bolduc – Joe Veleno – Kirby Dach

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier
Lane Hutson — Noah Dobson
Kaiden Guhle – Arber Xhekaj 

Jakub Dobes 

10 Thoughts

1) In what can only be described as a crazy first period, the Sabres once again came out extremely strong and forced the visitors to defend early. They were helped with some puck luck to open the scoring two minutes into the game. While the Habs were far too passive, they did have everyone covered when Jack Quinn sent a puck to the net. Unfortunately, the puck had different ideas as it bounced off Jason Zucker and then a Montreal defender to find its way into the net. Rough start.

2) Both teams were guilty of some egregious defensive play throughout the first period, and this allowed the Canadiens to stay close even though they didn’t really deserve it. They tied the game a first time when Suzuki and Slafkovsky delivered a forechecking trap. It worked as Bowen Byram coughed up the puck, allowing Suzuki to end up with the puck in the slot. He waited for Caufield to get close to the net before making an area play that gave the sniper a tap-in into the empty net.

3) The Sabres were the better team and they scored one minute after the Caufield marker on a shift where they were all over the Habs. Josh Doan’s shot that found the back of the net was from far out and Dobes was both off his angle and deep in his net. With the score tied at two apiece, the third Buffalo goal of the period was an ugly one as Konsta Helenius turned and shot from a non-dangerous area on the ice and the shot beat Dobes along the ice. If Dobes has often bailed out the Habs in these playoffs, it was time for the Habs to bail out Dobes.

4) All was not lost for Montreal as they remained within one goal despite this horrendous first period. They scored their second goal just nine seconds after Buffalo scored their second, as Texier went hard to the net and Carrier sent a harmless shot toward the net that hit Texier’s skate and found the back of the net. It was about as lucky as the initial Sabres goal, so lucky bounces were even in that regard. Montreal outshot Buffalo 11-9 in the period despite puck possession numbers that were clearly in favour of the Sabres in the period.

5) The Sabres came out strong and dominated the first five minutes of the second period. They outshot the Canadiens 4-2 early, but the pace of play was worse than that as the Sabres appeared poised to extend their 3-2 lead. Instead, they coughed up a hairball for the rest of the game. What really didn’t help was that when the penalties started, the Habs went two-for-two on the power play and killed both penalties against them. The Habs outshot the Sabres 12-7 by the end of the period despite that horrendous start to the frame.

6) Montreal’s third goal came off a set face-off play spearheaded by Hutson. A cross play at the top of the zone after a faceoff win allowed Anderson to run a bit of interference for Hutson. This gave the shifty defender the space he needed, and it allowed Anderson to get to his forehand side. With the Sabres scrambling to cover Hutson, they left Anderson alone and Hutson was able to find the seam. Anderson delivered the near tap-in to tie the game. From that point forward, it was all Montreal for the rest of the period. Slafkovsky took the first penalty of the game for high-sticking that was handled by his teammates.

7) Ivan Demidov, still looking for his first career playoff goal, was absolutely everywhere once the Habs took control of the period. He was dangerous and made some Buffalo defenders look bad as he can do. With 3:45 left, he was rewarded even if it was not with a goal. His shot got through Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen but wasn’t going in until Evans crashed the net and put it home. Tage Thompson then took a dumb high-sticking penalty, and the power play made him pay in 10 seconds as Slafkovsky won two board battles before finding Suzuki in the slot. Suzuki made no mistake and just like that, it was 5-3 Habs after two periods.

8) The nuclear option was activated for the Sabres as Alex Lyon started the third period in place of Luukkonen. Buffalo activated early as they got three decent looks in the first shift, but they forgot to play defence, giving up a two-on-one where Slafkovsky hit the post on Lyon’s first shot faced. Demidov then pushed again, forcing Dahlin into taking a cross-checking penalty. This time, it was Demidov who finally got a goal on the man advantage. Hutson made a brilliant play to keep the puck in the zone and Slafkovsky once again found the right pass, this time to Demidov who dragged the puck to the slot before roofing one over Lyon.

9) With 16 minutes still to go, the Canadiens fell back a bit which was not great to watch, but the silver lining was allowing for Dobes to slowly find his footing and quiet his game as the period progressed. He made a few difficult saves, but he made a large volume of stops as the Sabres sent 20 shots his way in the period.

10) The Sabres pulled Lyon with 6:30 left on the clock which allowed them to control the puck in the offensive zone. Hutson made matters worse by taking a penalty with 3:30 left. Anderson took another penalty after the play, but it was offset by a call on Byram. Truthfully, Anderson was lucky because his slash was more obvious of a call and the Habs likely should have ended up with only three players on the ice. At 6-on-4, nothing really happened except for a few Buffalo players being more interested in avenging Byram than trying to get back in the game. In the end, it was a 6-3 win for the Habs, thanks to a perfect night on special teams. 

HabsWorld Habs 3 Stars

1st Star – Lane Hutson

Hutson was responsible for the play that shifted the entire game. That pass to Anderson gave the Habs life and appeared to cause the Sabres to ask themselves what they needed to do to get rid of Montreal. It created that seed of doubt. Hutson then made a great play on the second power play to put the game on ice early in the third period. I know many are looking at Dobes as the Habs’ MVP in these playoffs so far, but for me, that distinction goes to Hutson without a doubt.

Stats: 2 assists, +1, 1 shot, 20:33 T.O.I. 

2nd Star – Ivan Demidov

Demidov was engaged early and his confidence has evidently been rising in every game this series. Once the Habs got back to 3-3, Demidov took his entire line on his back and it was the most consistently dangerous line throughout the second period. That Demidov finally got his goal in the first is fitting as he was definitely the best forward for the Canadiens in this game.

Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist, even, 5 shots, 2 hits, 14:44 T.O.I. 

3rd Star – Juraj Slafkovsky 

Slafkovsky just extends so many plays for his line. His forecheck was the main point of the first goal, his ability to win puck battles along the boards was directly responsible for the Suzuki power play goal, and his skill allowed him to find Demidov for the final dagger. He can do it in so many ways. Big game player.

Stats: 3 assists, -1, 2 shots, 1 hit, 19:17 T.O.I.