MONTREAL – In October, just a few games into the season, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff might offer little or no information about his lineup. So right now, in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he’s not going to divulge anything.
The Sabres, having fallen behind 2-1 to the Canadiens in the best-of-seven series and been outscored 11-3 in losing the last two games, might be ready to change some things for Game 4 on Tuesday at the Bell Centre.
But whatever Ruff’s thinking, he’s not about to share.
“We’re going to dress a lineup that we think is going to be the best possible chance to win,” he said in the 4 Seasons Hotel Montreal of what he weighs when he considers lineup changes.
Goalie Alex Lyon has been the Sabres’ backbone since replacing an ineffective Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Boston Bruins.
Even after allowing nine goals in the last two games – the Canadiens had two empty-netters – he has compiled a 2.18 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in eight games.
He kept the Sabres in Sunday’s 6-2 loss early, making a slew of huge stops. In the last two games, the coverage around him, not the goaltending, has been their biggest problem.
Still, in need of a spark, could Ruff change goalies? He did not want to address that.
“He had nothing to do with the loss,” he said of Lyon. “He made a lot of great saves inside the game. They had a couple point-blank he made tremendous saves on. I would’ve liked to change a couple forwards and a couple D, maybe, during the game, but we don’t have that option.”
Ruff has that option on Tuesday.
Winger Jason Zucker, who has mustered just one assist during the postseason, skated just 6 minutes, 47 seconds in Sunday’s loss.
Ruff said special teams factored in his low ice time. Zucker recently moved to the second power-play unit and doesn’t kill penalties. Ruff said the veteran is healthy.
Notes: The NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday fined Sabres winger Beck Malenstyn $3,515.63, the maximum amount allowed under the collective bargaining agreement, for running into Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes 11:30 into the second period on Sunday. Malenstyn received a minor penalty for goalie interference. Meanwhile, Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj was fined $3,385.42 for roughing Sabres center Sam Carrick 19:56 into the third period. … The Sabres did not practice on Monday, choosing instead to rest. … The NHL has announced Game 5 on Thursday in Buffalo will start at 7 p.m.