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The Montreal Canadiens face a decisive Game 7, having squandered a two-goal advantage and an opportunity to progress to the NHL’s Eastern Conference championship.
Rasmus Dahlin contributed a goal and four assists, propelling the Buffalo Sabres to a resounding 8-3 victory over the Canadiens in Game 6 on Saturday evening, after a goaltender change, thus leveling the second-round, best-of-seven playoff series at three wins each.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen successfully blocked all 17 attempts on net after replacing Alex Lyon, who surrendered three goals on just four shots before his removal.
Tage Thompson recorded a goal and three assists, alongside Jack Quinn’s two goals and one assist, as they collectively aided the Sabres in dampening the celebrations both within and around the Bell Centre, postponing the Canadiens’ series victory — for the time being.
Zach Benson and Jason Zucker each secured a goal and an assist, with Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also finding the net during Buffalo’s impressive rally.
The contention returns to Buffalo’s KeyBank Center for the pivotal Game 7 scheduled for Monday. The victor will proceed to face the Carolina Hurricanes, who have been inactive since their sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers on May 9th.
Dobes relieved after conceding six goals
Jakub Dobes allowed six goals on 33 attempts before Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis removed him from the game with 10:02 left. Subsequently, Jacob Fowler saved one of two shots during his inaugural NHL playoff appearance.
Jake Evans, who also had an assist, along with Arber Xhekaj and Ivan Demidov, tallied goals for the Canadiens, enabling them to establish an early 3-1 advantage and prompting Lyon’s departure in the middle of the first period.
The Montreal Canadiens suffered an 8-3 defeat against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 and must now prepare for Game 7. Post-loss, supporters conveyed disappointment but maintained conviction that their squad would triumph in the conclusive match.
The Sabres subsequently netted seven consecutive goals, far surpassing the Canadiens’ initial lead.
Zucker notched a goal during a power play at 13:56 of the first period, assisted by Josh Norris. Benson then ignited a commanding second period for the Sabres, finding the net from a narrow aperture merely a minute in, having controlled a puck that had eluded Dobes.
Quinn put the Sabres ahead 4-3 with another power-play goal at 10:54, prior to Helenius converting a feed from Zucker on a 2-on-1 opportunity just two minutes and five seconds subsequent, leaving the Canadiens and their previously enthusiastic audience in shock.
The Sabres’ forward netted his second goal of the contest with an additional power-play conversion at 9:58 in the third frame, coinciding with Fowler’s entrance into the net. Thompson guided the puck into an unguarded net at 14:12, extending the lead to four goals, before Metsa registered Buffalo’s fourth power-play tally of the evening at 17:47.
Rapid succession of goals in the opening frame
Well before the game commenced, an intense fervor already gripped the city, where supporting the Canadiens is almost inherent. Multitudes dressed in the Canadiens’ blue-white-red attire congregated on the thoroughfares encircling the Bell Centre, prompting Montreal police to request that spectators abstain from deploying pyrotechnics, foreseeing an exuberant environment.
Meanwhile, in Quebec City, a rival locale historically associated with the Nordiques’ blue, additional thousands gathered for a viewing event within the Videotron Centre.
Iconic Canadiens player Larry Robinson lifted the symbolic torch before the roaring multitude, inaugurating the first Saturday night playoff match at a fully occupied Bell Centre since 2015. A thunderous wave of “Ole, Ole, Ole” choruses subsequently postponed the national anthems, a recurring occurrence throughout the current spring season.
Dahlin promptly silenced the spectators with a goal just 32 seconds into the contest, maneuvering past Juraj Slafkovsky after the Montreal forward’s giveaway, then finding the net with a backhand shot.
The excitement barely subsided as Montreal and Buffalo collectively netted five goals in a tumultuous opening period, reflecting the frenzied commencement of Game 5.
Coinciding with the initiation of the initial “Ly-on!” jeers, Xhekaj’s point shot deceived the Sabres’ goaltender on the glove side, evening the score at 1:40 and initiating a three-goal surge.
Demidov unleashed a powerful one-timer during the power play at 8:12, following Peyton Krebs’ roughing infraction against Alex Newhook.
Evans subsequently threaded a shot past Lyon for a short-handed goal 2:02 afterward, concluding Lyon’s appearance and granting the Canadiens a 3-1 lead — a temporary advantage preceding the Sabres’ rally.
Montreal similarly held a 3-2 lead in their initial series encounter against the Tampa Bay Lightning, suffering a defeat in Game 6 on home ice before securing victory in Game 7 in Tampa Bay.
After the Montreal Canadiens established dominance in their best-of-seven playoff contention with a 6-3 triumph over Buffalo, Sabres devotees disclosed which Canadiens players they found most vexing — Alex Newhook presently stands out as a frequent mention.
