The Buffalo Sabres came out flying, and the Montreal Canadiens spent the first part of the game chasing things. Before Montreal could really settle in, the Sabres already had a 2-0 lead, and suddenly, Montreal was playing from behind.
Buffalo’s speed through the neutral zone caused Montreal problems all night. Turnovers repeatedly turned into dangerous rushes, and the Sabres cashed in on the power play. Alex Lyon was steady with 26 saves, and youngsters Zach Benson and Josh Doan were quick and confident.
The Canadiens Didn’t Fold, But Kept Making Mistakes
Credit to Montreal — they didn’t fold. After the rough start, they pushed back, controlled the pace at times, and Nick Suzuki again looked like the team’s heartbeat. The line featuring Suzuki, Kirby Dach, and Juraj Slafkovsky created traffic and real chances, but just when the Canadiens seemed to be gaining momentum, another mistake popped up.
Lane Hutson slipping on Buffalo’s opening goal hurt. A failed clearing attempt led directly to Bowen Byram’s power-play marker. And defensively, the Canadiens just never looked fully comfortable handling Buffalo’s speed off the rush.
Once Again, the Canadiens’ Goalie Was Strong
Jakub Dobes actually gave Montreal a chance. He made some big saves and competed hard, but there’s only so much a goalie can do when the team in front of him keeps giving up odd-man looks and second chances.
The Canadiens’ special teams were a bit of a mixed bag. The power play did connect late in the first when Suzuki buried one, which was encouraging because that unit looked dangerous at times. But the penalty kill and overall defensive coverage still left too many openings.
Positives and Negatives for the Canadiens
Two things stood out positively for Montreal. First, Suzuki continues to look like a playoff player. He’s calm, dangerous, and seems to elevate when the games get heavier. Second, the Canadiens showed some fight after falling behind early. They didn’t quit on the game, and that matters this time of year.
But the negatives were hard to ignore. Their puck management was messy, especially in the neutral zone and in their own end. Buffalo feasted on turnovers. And Montreal’s gap control against the rush just wasn’t good enough. Too often, Buffalo entered the zone cleanly and forced the Canadiens’ defenders onto their heels.
How Can the Canadiens Win Game 2?
Looking ahead to Game 2, the path is pretty clear for Montreal. They don’t need to change much. They just need to clean things up. Fewer careless turnovers. Better defensive structure through the neutral zone. Stronger penalty killing. And they probably need an early goal to settle the nerves a little.
If Dobes keeps playing the way he’s been playing and the top line continues generating chances, the Canadiens absolutely have a shot to even this series. Against a fast team like Buffalo, you can’t keep handing out free opportunities and expect to survive.
Related: Dobes Is Being Unfair to Shooters — 3 Reasons He’s a Brick Wall
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