It’s solely proper that this 12 months’s traditionally aggressive Atlantic Division, with 4 groups reaching 100 factors within the common season, comes down to 1 winner-take-all recreation.
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens by three factors within the standings; the Canadiens have outscored the Sabres by three of their second-round collection, which ends with Monday’s Sport 7 at 7:30 p.m. at KeyBank Heart. Winner advances to the Japanese Convention Last in opposition to Carolina.
“It’s a brand new expertise for lots of fellows on this room and one thing you dream of rising up,” Tage Thompson mentioned after his four-point Sport 6. “… It’s one other recreation that we get to embrace. I believe for those who would’ve requested each man in right here in September if they might have taken being in Sport 7 in Spherical 2, all of us would have signed up for that. So, we’re in a fantastic spot.
“Now, it’s only one recreation. That’s all that issues.”
Coach Lindy Ruff has joked about wishing Sport 7 have been on the street, the place Buffalo is 5-1 these playoffs (in comparison with 2-4 at residence). In fact, the Sabres cherish the house crowd’s help come gametime, however they’re getting ready for Monday night time like they’ve for latest street wins, cancelling the morning skate and simply coming to the rink able to play.
Sport 6, an 8-3 rout whereas dealing with elimination, noticed the Sabres dominate from begin to end regardless of some shaky goaltending early. If that effort on the hostile Bell Centre interprets to residence ice, they like their possibilities of shifting on to Spherical 3.
“The objective is to make Sport 7 like Sport 6,” Ruff mentioned. “Transfer the puck fast, play with a variety of tempo, maintain our toes shifting within the offensive zone, and shut actual rapidly within the defensive zone. That is our recipe.”
Right here all the main points earlier than puck drop.