The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens are gearing up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. As Atlantic Division rivals, they know each other well, having faced off four times during the regular season. Each team secured two wins, with both scoring 13 goals.
Buffalo forward Tage Thompson stressed the importance of moving past their regular-season encounters. He acknowledged the Canadiens as a strong team, but emphasised that the new round marks a fresh start. He said the team needs to get ready for Game 1 and take it from there.
Canadiens Aim Higher After First Round Win
Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson said the team is excited to reach this point but need to reach another level quickly. He said the team’s goals are higher than just getting to the second round.
Rest vs. Momentum: Which Team Has the Edge?
The Canadiens are coming off a Game 7 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They stayed in Tampa until Tuesday before arriving in Buffalo and have only had one practice since the series finale. The Sabres, meanwhile, have been idle since their Game 6 win against the Boston Bruins on May 1, balancing practice with days off.
Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff doesn’t believe either team has a distinct advantage. He believes the key will be managing the puck effectively and battling hard for possession. Ruff emphasised the importance of winning battles for the puck.
He said any coach will talk about winning the battle on the wall, winning the battle off the wall, and winning the battle to get it to the net. He added that teams need to be determined with their boxouts around the net to win that 50/50 battle.
- Willingness to compete on pucks is key at this time of year.
- Winning battles on and off the wall is crucial.
- Net-front presence and box-out execution are vital.
Dobson’s Return a Boost for Montreal
The Canadiens received a boost with the return of Noah Dobson from an upper-body injury in Game 7 of the first round. The defenseman recorded four hits and two blocked shots in 18:37 of ice time.
Montreal captain Nick Suzuki expects Dobson to play closer to his regular season average of 22:29 in Game 1 as he becomes more comfortable.
Game 1 will start a story that will play out across the next two weeks and determine which team goes to the conference final.