05/14/26 10:35:00
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05/14 22:33 CDT Suzuki, Evans cap 2nd-period surge, Canadiens beat Sabres 6-3
to take 3-2 lead in 2nd-round series
Suzuki, Evans cap 2nd-period surge, Canadiens beat Sabres 6-3 to take 3-2 lead
in 2nd-round series
By JOHN WAWROW
AP Hockey Writer
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) --- Captain Nick Suzuki and the Canadiens' top line brought
the offense, goalie Jakub Dobes shook off a rough start, and Montreal is one
win from advancing to the Eastern Conference finals.
Suzuki and Jake Evans capped a three-goal second period surge by scoring 68
seconds apart in a 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, giving
the Canadiens a 3-2 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Montreal didn't lead until Evans swept a loose puck over the goal line behind
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to put the Canadiens up 4-3 with 3:45 remaining in the
second period. Ivan Demidov set up the goal when his shot glanced off
Luukkonen's glove and then dribbled behind him.
Suzuki then scored 10 seconds into a power-play opportunity by converting Juraj
Slafkovsky's one-handed pass from the end boards and beating Luukkonen through
the legs with a shot from the lower right circle.
"The power-play goal was huge, felt like it gave us a little bit of breathing
room," Suzuki said. "Just kept trying to put the foot on the gas a little bit,
too."
Demidov, Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson and Alexandre Texier also scored for
Montreal, which will host Game 6 on Saturday night.
Dobes allowed three goals on the first four shots he faced before stopping the
final 32. The rookie goalie was pleased with coach Martin St. Louis' decision
to keep him in the game, especially after Dobes acknowledged he sagged after
rookie Konsta Helenius beat him through the legs to put Buffalo up 3-2.
"I told him thank you for leaving me and trying to prove myself," Dobes said.
"I'm really proud of myself too for not giving up and keep making saves."
Josh Doan and Jason Zucker also scored for the Atlantic Division champions, who
are facing elimination for the first time this postseason.
Luukkonen allowed five goals on 23 shots, and was pulled after two periods --
the second time he's been yanked this postseason. Alex Lyon mopped up, allowing
a goal on three shots. Lyon is potentially in line to regain the starting
duties after losing the job following a 6-2 loss in Game 3.
"It's not good enough. Not good enough," Sabres forward Alex Tuch said. "I
thought we had a pretty good start actually, too. We should have locked it down
better and played better defensively. It's frustrating."
The Sabres have dropped two of three at home in the series, and are 2-4 overall
in the playoffs. On the bright side, they're 4-1 on the road, including a 3-2
win at Montreal on Tuesday.
Montreal finally got much-needed production from its top line, with Suzuki
(goal, two assists), Slafkovsky (three assists) and Caufield getting on the
scoresheet. The trio had combined for four goals and five assists in the first
four games of the series.
Most encouraging was Caufield's goal being the line's first in a five-on-five
situation in the series.
"Very good for the confidence," said Slafkovsky. "We stuck with it, and it's
good for confidence. But it doesn't matter. In two days, we got to do it again
and play our best game of the season."
Montreal is one win from advancing to the semifinal round of the playoffs for
the first time since the Covid pandemic altered 2021 playoffs. The Canadiens
eventually reached the Stanley Cup Final and lost to Tampa Bay in five games.
Buffalo and Montreal combined for five goals in the first 10:15, including Doan
and Texier scoring nine seconds apart.
The five goals were scored in a span of 8:15, which ranks 11th on the playoff
list of fastest between two teams.
Buffalo's deficiencies continue being exposed. After allowing 12 goals in six
games of their first-round series against Boston, the Sabres have allowed 21
already to Montreal --- and 19 in the past four.
___
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