Montreal Canadiens - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Whistle costs Beck Malenstyn, Sabres go-ahead goal: ‘A chaotic sequence’

BUFFALO – With Monday’s Game 7 tied halfway through the third period, Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram landed a shot from the point on Jakub Dobes that winger Jordan Greenway quickly poked through the goalie’s pads.

As the puck moved toward the goal line, referee Wes McCauley blew his whistle just before Sabres winger Beck Malenstyn knocked it into the net, raised his arms in celebration and the crowd erupted.

The goal did not count, and ... Read the full article

Memorable Sabres season ends with OT loss to Canadiens in Game 7: ‘It hurts’

BUFFALO – When the dressing room door opened after the Sabres’ gut-wrenching 3-2 overtime loss in Game 7 on Monday, winger Alex Tuch was sitting in his stall, still wearing his No. 89 jersey and pondering things following what could be his final appearance wearing the Blue and Gold.

Across the room, captain Rasmus Dahlin spoke quietly to the media, his emotion still raw barely 20 minutes after Montreal Canadiens winger Alex Newhook scored from ... Read the full article

After pulling Alex Lyon, Lindy Ruff gave Sabres goalie words of encouragement

BUFFALO – Following perhaps the worst start of Alex Lyon’s life – a one-save outing in which he allowed three goals – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he gave the goalie a pat of the back and some words of encouragement.

Throughout the regular season, Lyon, 33, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 27, formed perhaps the NHL’s best goaltending tandem, often alternating starts. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Sabres have leaned on both netminders.

So ... Read the full article

Sabres change up home routine before Game 7 versus Canadiens, stay in hotel

BUFFALO – Coach Lindy Ruff said he’s all for trying different things, so what the heck, he figured, why not put the Sabres in a hotel prior to Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens?

The Sabres have lost four of their six home games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including Thursday’s ugly 6-3 setback in Game 5. With the a trip to the Eastern Conference final on the line tonight at KeyBank Center, Ruff wanted ... Read the full article

For Sabres, Game 7 against Canadiens will be special: ‘We’re the better team’

BUFFALO – Having cut his teeth as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Sabres winger Alex Tuch has experienced the craziness that often accompanies Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The memories of his first one in 2019 are seared in his mind.

“Oh yeah,” Tuch replied Sunday when asked if he has any crazy recollections of the three he has played.

Then Tuch, whose Sabres host Game 7 of their second-round series ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres rally from early deficit to stun Canadiens, force Game 7: ‘Our captain steps up’

MONTREAL – In the moment, the score meant nothing to the Buffalo Sabres. That they faced an early two-goal deficit after captain Rasmus Dahlin scored 32 seconds into the do-or-die contest, well, so be it.

If they maintained their focus on Saturday against the Canadiens, they told themselves, and kept doing the right things in the hostile Bell Centre, they would be rewarded.

“We actually liked our game to start,” winger Jason Zucker said after ... Read the full article

Sabres change lineup, mix up lines for Game 6 against Canadiens

MONTREAL – The Buffalo Sabres made one lineup change for tonight’s do-or-die contest against the Canadiens, inserting rookie defenseman Zach Metsa and scratching veteran Luke Schenn for Game 6 of the second-round series.

Metsa, 27, made his debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He sat out the first 11 games as a healthy scratch.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has lauded Metsa’s decision-making ability and how he breaks the puck out.... Read the full article

Sabres need Tage Thompson, centers to produce as they face elimination; Owen Power has chance to play Game 5

MONTREAL – In their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres’ top three centers – Tage Thompson, Josh Norris and Ryan McLeod – have combined to score just three goals and seven points in five games.

The pivots’ total rating, minus-12, is “led” by Thompson’s awful minus-9.

No wonder the Sabres, who trail the best-of-seven series 3-2, must win Game 6 tonight at the Bell Centre to prolong their season.... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff wants to ease pressure on Sabres as they face elimination; Buffalo needs more from Alex Tuch,

MONTREAL – Instead of practicing or holding a meeting or video session on Friday before they departed Buffalo for a do-or-die Game 6, coach Lindy Ruff told the Sabres to stay away from the rink and meet at the airport.

His reasoning? Fresh off Thursday’s 6-3 home loss to the Canadiens, Ruff wants to ease the stress and have them focus on Saturday’s game at the Bell Centre.

For the first time in these Stanley ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Owen Power feeling ‘pretty good’ after injury

BUFFALO – Almost halfway through the third period in Game 5, Sabres defenseman Owen Power slid into the end boards as he and Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Tessier raced to grab a loose puck.

After getting up, Power hobbled down the tunnel before returning to the bench. During breaks in the action, he tested the injury.

He felt well enough to return for two shifts in the final six minutes of Thursday’s 6-3 loss to ... Read the full article