The Montréal Canadiens were left with a bad taste in their mouths following their 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres earlier this week in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal. They needed a major performance on Friday evening to avoid falling into a seriously dangerous two game hole against the upstart Sabres, who are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Thanks to a quick outburst in the opening 20 minutes of play, the Canadiens are going back to Bell Centre with the series knotted at one game apiece. The Sabres scored twice in the first five minutes of playing, taking a 2-0 lead that they would never relinquish.
And in doing so, they matched a feat that they hadn’t done since 2011 against the rival Boston Bruins.
The Montréal Canadiens Matched A Feat Not Seen Since 2011
For the first time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the aforementioned series in 2011 against the Bruins, the Canadiens scored twice in the opening five minutes of play.
Alex Newhook scored at the 1:36 mark of the first period, followed by a goal from Mike Matheson at 3:54, which was his first tally of the postseason.
While the Sabres threatened with multiple power-play chances, they were unable to break through. Shortly after another man-advantage opportunity for the Sabres in the second period, Newhook would strike again, increasing the lead to 3-0.
While the Sabres got the sellout crowd at KeyBank Center back on its feet late in the game’s middle frame thanks to a goal from Zach Benson, it would be as close as they’d get.
Montreal restored the three-goal lead in the third period thanks to the first goal of the playoffs from Alex Carrier, and capped the scoring with an empty-net tally from captain Nick Suzuki with Sabres goalie Alex Lyon on the bench for an extra attacker.
The Canadiens Knotted The Series Against The Sabres At One Game Apiece
Newhook played the role of hero for the Habs on Friday, scoring twice and helping ensure his club would return home with the series deadlocked at one game apiece.
“I think as a group we knew we needed a big effort tonight, a bounce-back, a bounce-forward game (after a 4-2 loss in Game 1),” Newhook said after the game. “… I think throughout the lineup, a lot of good games. I think we were able to roll through our lines and deliver a pretty solid effort, and it was a pretty big game here in Game 2.”
Meanwhile, Suzuki said that the game plan was to get off to a fast start, which they were ultimately successful with.
“We knew we had to come and have a good start and to just score two goals, I think it was the first five minutes, that was amazing to get off to that lead, and just kept kind of building our game throughout,” said Suzuki. “I thought everyone was really bought in and had an amazing game.”
Game 3 between the Canadiens and Sabres is scheduled for Sunday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Canadiens Match Historic Feat Not Seen Since 2011 In Game 2 Win