The Buffalo Sabres disposed of the Boston Bruins in six games last week, and then the Montreal Canadiens took out the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven with a narrow win on Sunday night. Buffalo and Montreal were the best teams for long periods in the Atlantic Division so it makes sense for the two to be here at this stage.
With the Sabres winning the division they have home advantage and will open the series with two home games, before the duel shifts to Quebec. The Sabres and Canadiens split the four games they played during the regular season (2-2-0).
Tage Thompson led Buffalo with seven points (three goals, four assists) in the four games. Injured forward Noah Ostlund had four points (one goals, three assists) in three games, and is not expected back for the second round series. Forward Zach Benson (one goal, two assists) and captain Rasmus Dahlin (three assists) each had three points in four games.
Alex Lyon was 0-2-0 with a 3.11 GAA and .902 save percentage in two starts. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen won his only start, allowing two goals on 34 shots in a 4-2 win on Jan. 22, and Colten Ellis won the other start, a 5-3 victory on Jan. 15.
Captain Nick Suzuki led Montreal with eight points (two goals, six assists) in the four games against Buffalo during the regular season, and forward Cole Caufield had six points, including four goals. Hutson (one goal, three assists) and defenseman Noah Dobson (four assists) each had four points.
Jakub Dobeš was 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .943 save percentage. Jacob Fowler went 0-1-0 with a 4.13 GAA and .846 save percentage, and Sam Montembeault was 0-1-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .813 save percentage as both teams used all three goalies in their respective rosters.
The Sabres and Canadiens have played in the playoffs seven times, with Montreal winning four of the series. The two teams haven’t met since 1998, when the Sabres swept the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Full Stanley Cup playoffs schedule here
Montreal Canadiens (3A) vs. Buffalo Sabres (1A)
Series tied 2-2
Game 1: Buffalo 4, Montreal 2
Game 2: Montreal 5, Buffalo 1
Game 3: Montreal 6, Buffalo 2
Game 4: Buffalo 3, Montreal 2
Game 5: Montreal at Buffalo — 7 p.m. ET, Thursday, May 14 (TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 6: Buffalo at Montreal — 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 16 (ABC, SN, CBC, TVAS)
* Game 7: Montreal at Buffalo — TBA, Monday, May 18 (ESPN)
* – if necessary