BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Montreal Canadiens stumbled out of the gate in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. Coming off a gritty seven-game upset victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, the Canadiens faced a stark contrast against the younger, faster Sabres, who capitalized on an early slow start to take a 1-0 series lead.
The game, which unfolded in a brisk two hours and 27 minutes, highlighted the Canadiens' youth and inexperience against a Buffalo squad that ranks as the second-youngest team left in the postseason. Both clubs skated with pace, but Montreal's defensive lapses and goaltending woes proved costly. Rookie netminder Jakub Dobes, who had been a revelation against Tampa with a .961 save percentage over the final three games of that series, struggled in his eighth consecutive playoff start, allowing four goals on what appeared to be a challenging night. According to reports, Dobes faced nine shots early and let in four, finishing with a .750 save percentage that left the team playing catch-up from the outset.
The trouble began almost immediately for Montreal. Defenseman Lane Hutson, a key part of the Canadiens' young blue line, took a delayed tripping penalty just 30 seconds into the contest, setting a frantic tone. Less than five minutes later, Hutson walked in from the point on a power play but rang a shot off the crossbar after Sabres goalie Alex Lyon got a piece of it. The momentum shifted decisively when Hutson lost his footing, leading to a three-on-one rush that resulted in Buffalo's opening goal by Josh Doan. It marked the first time in the playoffs that the Canadiens had allowed a first-period goal since Game 3 of their series against Tampa Bay.
Buffalo didn't let up. Ryan McLeod extended the lead to 2-0 in the 14th minute, putting Montreal in an unfamiliar hole as the first time in the postseason they trailed by two goals. The Canadiens clawed back late in the frame when Juraj Slafkovsky threaded a perfect pass to Nick Suzuki, who buried it to make it 2-1. But the period ended with Jake Evans hitting the post on a two-on-one break with Alex Newhook, a game-of-inches moment that underscored Montreal's frustration.
The second period brought more of the same for the Sabres. Jordan Greenway, a towering 6-foot-6, 231-pound fourth-line winger who had scored just one goal in 40 regular-season games, restored Buffalo's two-goal advantage early in the frame with his first tally since November 13. Both teams struck iron during the period—Jack Quinn and Rasmus Dahlin for the Sabres—while Kirby Dach provided a highlight for Montreal, scoring a goal while falling down and delivering the night's best solo effort to pull the Canadiens within one at 3-2.
Buffalo's power play, which had gone 1-for-46 in April—including 1-for-24 against Boston in the first round—suddenly came alive, converting two of three chances. It evoked memories of the Sabres' storied French Connection line from decades past, with Gilbert Perreault, René Robert, and Rick Martin, though today's kids might need to consult their grandfathers for the details. The fourth Sabres goal came on one of those opportunities, sealing the win despite Buffalo managing just one shot in the third period.
Montreal showed signs of life in the final frame, outshooting Buffalo and finding their footing, as Dach noted afterward. Quinn hit the post again for the Sabres, but the Canadiens couldn't convert Cole Caufield's glorious chance in the opening seconds. Caufield, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound sniper, remains stuck on one power-play goal through eight playoff games, raising questions about his fit in the high-stakes environment despite his regular-season prowess.
Head coach Martin St. Louis, speaking in Buffalo after the game, emphasized resilience. “I’m confident that we can play any style,” St. Louis said. “I’m confident we can play the game that’s in front of us. I’m confident we can learn from this one and be better. I liked that we battled. It wasn’t the start that we wanted in the game or the series. But we’re going to keep going.” Dach echoed the sentiment, adding, “For the most part in the third period we found our footing and found our game. For us it’s about finding a way to get to our game early and stick with it through the whole 60 minutes.”
The loss comes after a taxing schedule for Montreal, who spent Monday in Tampa following their series win, practiced Tuesday in Florida, and then flew nearly three hours to Buffalo on the eve of the game. Critics have questioned the travel logistics—why not fly Monday, practice Tuesday, and rest Wednesday?—but St. Louis has stood by the preparation. Now, with a 4-4 record across the playoffs, the Canadiens face heightened pressure. A .500 mark wouldn't have even qualified them for the postseason in the regular season, where intensity is already fierce, let alone the magnified stakes of April and May.
Personnel decisions added layers to the narrative. Veteran forward Brendan Gallagher, who turned 34 on Wednesday, was a healthy scratch after three straight games, a tough pill for the longtime Canadien. In contrast, Joe Veleno made his postseason debut after six NHL seasons, logging 8:33 and recording five hits alongside Zachary Bolduc's five in 8:53. Defenseman Arber Xhekaj contributed three hits in just 7:42, while Hutson led with five shots in 26:42. Juraj Slafkovsky had four shots, and the Canadiens dominated faceoffs at 62.7 percent, outhitting Buffalo 31-27.
This series pits two of the NHL's youngest teams against each other, with Montreal the youngest remaining. The Sabres, fresh off a six-game dismissal of Boston, bring speed and depth that tested the Canadiens' limits. Dobes, hailed for his magic against Tampa, showed vulnerability here, but observers expect a rebound. “We suspect this was a blip on the radar and Dobes will bounce back,” according to post-game analysis from the Montreal Gazette. Otherwise, the series could end quickly for Montreal.
Looking ahead, Game 2 is set for Friday night back at KeyBank Center. A win there would even the series and give the Canadiens momentum heading home. But a loss would dig a 2-0 hole, a deficit few teams overcome in the playoffs. As St. Louis noted, one game doesn't define a series—until a team loses at home, it's not truly in jeopardy. Yet, after the euphoria of beating Tampa, this reality check serves as a reminder of the grind ahead.
The broader context underscores Montreal's improbable run. As the youngest team in the league, they've defied odds, but consistency will be key against Buffalo's relentless pace. With stars like Suzuki and Slafkovsky stepping up and Dach emerging, the Canadiens have the tools. But goaltending stability and early-game execution remain pivotal. Fans in Montreal, still buzzing from the first-round triumph, will watch closely as the series unfolds, hoping their club can channel the same upset magic that felled the Lightning.
In Upstate New York, far from the sun-soaked arenas of Florida, the playoffs take on a different flavor. The Sabres, playing with home-ice fire, reminded everyone that Toto isn't in Kansas anymore. For the Canadiens, the path forward involves quick adjustments and a bounce-back performance to keep their Cinderella story alive.