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Alex Newhook netted two goals, once more delivering crucial supplemental offense for Montreal, as the Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Friday evening, thereby leveling their second-round postseason series at one game each.
Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, and Nick Suzuki, who added a goal into an unguarded net, additionally found the back of the net for the Canadiens. Freshman netminder Jakub Dobes recorded 27 stops, and Montreal continued its pattern of oscillating between victories and defeats, a sequence observed in their seven-game opening-round series triumph against Tampa Bay.
The Canadiens progressed to the second stage of the playoffs courtesy of Newhook’s decisive goal, scored 11 minutes and 7 seconds into the final period, securing a 2-1 series-clinching victory last Sunday. Concurrently, Montreal’s primary attacking players are experiencing ongoing difficulties. Cole Caufield’s streak without a point has now reached five contests, and Juraj Slafkovsky has registered only a single assist across his last eight appearances.
Zach Benson managed to score for Buffalo, however, Alex Lyon conceded four goals from 27 shots faced. Before this match, he had given up seven goals over slightly more than six outings after stepping in for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was removed following two periods during a 4-2 defeat against Boston in the second game of their initial series.
The competition now moves to Montreal for the third game, scheduled for Sunday evening.
This will mark the Canadiens’ initial return to their home arena subsequent to their road trip, which began with their journey to Tampa Bay the previous weekend. The squad remained in Florida for a couple of days prior to flying straight to Buffalo on Tuesday.
The Sabres’ home record in this postseason has fallen to 2-3, yet they secured victories in all three away matches in Boston, which included their Game 6 series-deciding win.
Following a 2-0 deficit in the opening period of the first game, Montreal reversed the narrative.
A giveaway by Peyton Krebs within Buffalo’s territory culminated in Newhook’s goal at the 1:36 mark, as he slipped a puck beneath Lyon’s blocking arm. Matheson then tallied a goal 2 minutes and 51 seconds afterward, sending a shot from the left point that sailed past Lyon’s right shoulder.
Buffalo’s man advantage unit failed to capitalize on all five opportunities, contrasting with their 2-for-3 performance in Game 1. Throughout this postseason, the Sabres have only succeeded on three out of 32 total power-play chances.
Newhook’s subsequent goal, which occurred 4 minutes and 47 seconds into the middle frame, was netted just four seconds after Buffalo’s power play concluded without a single shot, while Carrier served a penalty for hooking.
Carrier’s score, recorded 3 minutes and 54 seconds into the final period, epitomized Buffalo’s night. As the Sabres swarmed Montreal’s goal, Tage Thompson managed to hold the puck at the right point, only to then falter and fall onto the ice. Carrier seized the unpossessed puck and scored, extending Montreal’s lead to 4-1.
Benson mishandled a redirection opportunity a mere two minutes thereafter. Earlier in the first period, Alex Tuch of Buffalo saw the puck slide off his stick during a shot attempt while advancing on the right wing, and Jack Quinn fired his shot high above the net after receiving a clear setup in the slot.
