Ivan Demidov scored his first profession Stanley Cup Playoff purpose and had an help, and Juraj Slafkovsky had three assists for Montreal, which is the No. 3 seed within the Atlantic Division. Phillip Danault and Lane Hutson every had two assists, and Jakub Dobes made 33 saves.
Jason Zucker, Josh Doan and Konsta Helenius scored for Buffalo, the No. 1 seed within the Atlantic.
“They pushed tougher than we did,” Sabres ahead Alex Tuch stated. “We gave them alternatives and possibilities, and on ours we didn’t bear down, and never the perfect puck play by us. And, yeah, we obtained outworked.”
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed 5 targets on 23 pictures earlier than being changed firstly of the third interval by Lyon, who made two saves.
“There’s nothing (Luukkonen) might’ve executed on the primary purpose. There’s nothing he might’ve executed on the second purpose,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff stated. “I feel the (fourth) purpose that went in from an actual robust angle, I feel that’s one which he would need again. So, if I’d’ve decided, wouldn’t it have made a distinction? Probably. However all 12 months, we haven’t made it about our goaltender, and we’re not gonna make it about our goaltender now.”
The groups mixed for 5 targets within the opening 10:15.
Zucker gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 2:00 of the primary interval. Jack Quinn put a wrist shot in direction of internet from above the left face-off circle, and the puck deflected off Zucker’s proper skate after which off Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson in entrance earlier than going into the online. It was Zucker’s first playoff purpose since April 21, 2024, when he was a member of the Nashville Predators.
Cole Caufield tied it 1-1 at 6:31, redirecting Suzuki’s move into an open internet following a Buffalo turnover within the defensive zone.