BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres kicked off their second-round playoff series with a convincing 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center, a win that underscored the dramatic turnaround this franchise has undergone in recent months. After years of playoff drought and front-office upheaval, the Sabres are suddenly a force in the Eastern Conference, having clinched the top spot in the Atlantic Division with 109 points and dispatching the Boston Bruins in six games in the first round. Game 2 is set for Friday at 7 p.m., broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.
The Sabres' resurgence traces back to a pivotal moment last December, when owner Terry Pegula fired general manager Kevyn Adams on Dec. 15, amid a dismal 14-14-4 start that had the team languishing in last place in the Eastern Conference. Adams, who had been with the organization since 2015, had openly discussed the challenges of attracting top talent to Buffalo just over a year earlier. On Dec. 6, 2024, with the Sabres mired in a five-game losing streak and on track for their 14th consecutive playoff miss, Adams remarked, “For me, it’s really simple. You become a perennial playoff team, you make the playoffs, you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup year after year, you are on less (players’) no-trade list. We don’t have palm trees, we have taxes in New York. Those are real and those are things you deal with. And, trust me, I’m in conversations every day and there’s a lot of players in the league that we’re on their list, so we need to earn their respect, and it starts with getting over the hump, getting in the playoffs, competing.”
The comment drew immediate backlash from frustrated fans, who showed up to the next game with inflatable palm trees in a mocking gesture, only to watch Buffalo fall 5-2 to the Utah Hockey Club, dropping their record to 11-13-3 amid chants of “Fire Kevyn!” Pegula's decision to part ways with Adams and install Jarmo Kekalainen as the new GM proved transformative. Since the change, the Sabres posted an impressive 36-9-5 record, propelling them to the division lead and ending a 15-year playoff absence.
Head coach Lindy Ruff, who remained in place through the front-office shakeup, credited the team's renewed focus but acknowledged the unusual spark from the GM switch. While coaching changes often ignite immediate improvements—such as the Vegas Golden Knights' 7-0-1 finish after firing Bruce Cassidy in favor of John Tortorella, followed by a six-game upset over Utah—the Sabres' leap forward without altering the bench has puzzled observers. “It’s hard to understand how changing the GM in Buffalo had such an immediate and long-lasting impact with Lindy Ruff remaining as coach,” noted one analysis from the Montreal Gazette.
For the Canadiens, who advanced past the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games in the first round, Game 1 served as a rude awakening. Montreal, the youngest team in the playoffs with an average age of 26.47, faces a similarly youthful Buffalo squad at 26.57 years old. Ahead of the series, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis prepared his players for a physical battle, saying, “It’s a team that will challenge you physically, speed-wise, and I think we’re fine with that. We just got to be ready for it.”
Buffalo struck first, building a 2-0 lead within the opening 13:26 on just nine shots against Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes. Captain Nick Suzuki pulled one back on the power play with 44 seconds left in the first period, making it 2-1. The Sabres then extended their advantage to 4-1 at 9:01 of the second, with all four goals coming on those limited attempts. Kirby Dach answered with a highlight-reel individual effort at 16:31 of the middle frame, narrowing the gap to 4-2 and earning praise from the Canadiens' social media: “Kirby Dach met les bouchées doubles et ça rapporte! What an effort from Kirby Dach! #GoHabsGo.”
Despite Montreal's late push, outshooting Buffalo 11-1 in the third period, Sabres netminder Alex Lyon preserved the win, stopping 26 of 28 shots. Dobes, in contrast, allowed four goals on 16 shots, dropping his playoff save percentage from .923 to .910. St. Louis defended his young goalie post-game, telling reporters, “Dobes had no chance on the first two goals.” Lyon, who took over from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after the latter surrendered four goals on 20 shots in a 4-2 loss to Boston in Game 2 of the first round, now boasts a .950 save percentage in the postseason.
The Canadiens' power play offered a glimmer of hope with Suzuki's tally, but Buffalo's unit, which had struggled at 1-for-46 (2.2 percent) over the prior 13 games, exploded for 2-for-3 (66.7 percent) against Montreal. Throughout their first-round series, Montreal trailed for just 27:12 across seven games; against Buffalo, they've already spent 55:29 behind after one contest.
Post-game, St. Louis remained optimistic, emphasizing resilience: “I liked that we battled. It wasn’t a start that we wanted in the game, in the series, but we’re going to keep going.” Defenseman Mike Matheson, who has deep ties to Buffalo—his wife hails from the area, and he owns a summer family home there—spoke highly of the opposition. Matheson, who trains with Sabres stars like Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson during the offseason, said ahead of Game 1, “I skate a lot with them and see first-hand just how special they are. So a lot of respect for them, for sure.”
Matheson also highlighted the fervor of Sabres fans, experiencing playoff hockey for the first time since 2011. “I think whether you’re somebody that lives in the city (or not), I think you can see how passionate they are for their sports—whether it’s the Sabres or the Bills—and how loyal they are through some pretty difficult times for a fan base,” he noted. “I think that’s the mark of a true fan base is even when things aren’t going right they’re there to support and be loud and so I think they’re definitely really excited for this.” The Game 1 win only amplified that energy, with the crowd roaring as Buffalo closed out the victory.
The series opener highlighted the parity between these two young, up-and-coming teams, both building for the future. Montreal's first-round triumph over Tampa showcased their potential, but Buffalo's depth and momentum present a sterner test. As St. Louis put it, the Canadiens must adapt quickly to the Sabres' aggressive style, which combines speed, physicality, and opportunistic scoring.
Beyond the ice, the Sabres' story resonates as a tale of redemption for a franchise long derided for its lack of success. The palm tree incident, once a symbol of despair, now feels like ancient history. “Who needs palm trees?” quipped one observer, capturing the shift in narrative from mockery to celebration.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens will look to even the series in Game 2, leaning on their battle-tested core including Suzuki and Dach. For Buffalo, maintaining the offensive efficiency that overwhelmed Dobes will be key, especially with Lyon's goaltending providing a solid backbone. As these two Atlantic Division rivals clash, the playoffs offer a preview of rivalries that could define the NHL for years to come.
The broader implications extend to the league's landscape, where front-office decisions can ripple through performance in unexpected ways. While the Sabres' post-Adams surge is remarkable, it also raises questions about sustainability. Analysts point to similar turnarounds, like Vegas's coaching pivot, but Buffalo's case stands out for its executive-level origin.
In a league where youth and speed often prevail, both teams embody that ethos. Montreal's veterans like St. Louis bring wisdom, while Buffalo's fresh energy, fueled by Kekalainen's vision, signals a new era. Fans on both sides, from the raucous KeyBank Center to the Bell Centre, are bracing for an intense series that could go the distance.