The Buffalo Sabres find themselves trailing in a playoff series for the first time this postseason after surrendering five unanswered goals in a 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Sunday night. With the defeat, Buffalo’s previously unblemished road playoff record comes to an end, and Montreal takes a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Sabres will have a day to regroup before attempting to even the series in Game 4 on Tuesday. Here is a breakdown of what went wrong for Buffalo in Game 3. A Fast Start Fades Quickly Buffalo initially silenced the raucous Montreal crowd when Tage Thompson found the back of the net just 53 seconds into the opening period. Given Thompson’s struggles in Game 2, the early strike off a feed from Rasmus Dahlin seemed to signal a bounce-back performance for the Sabres’ top line. However, Buffalo failed to capitalize on the early momentum. Instead of dictating the...Read More

The Eastern Conference Semifinal shifts north tonight as the Buffalo Sabres prepare to battle the Montreal Canadiens in a crucial Game 3 matchup. With the series deadlocked at a game apiece, Buffalo is eager to wash away the sour taste of a frustrating 5-1 defeat on Friday night. The Sabres struggled with uncharacteristic puck management in Game 2, falling into an early hole they simply could not climb out of. However, a spirited Saturday practice session seems to have righted the ship. Veteran forward Alex Tuch noted that getting back on the ice yesterday allowed the locker room to reset, shake off the lingering tension, and collectively rebuild their swagger ahead of tonight’s 7:00 P.M. puck drop. Here is everything you need to know as Buffalo looks to reclaim the series lead on the road. Lineup Adjustments and Power Play Shakeup Head coach Lindy Ruff is making some notable tweaks to jumpstart his group. Gritty forward Sam Carrick is slated...Read More

The playoff rollercoaster is in full swing, and the Buffalo Sabres are currently buckled in for the steep drop. After a high-energy victory to open the second round, Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens served as a cold reminder of how quickly momentum shifts in May. The series is now a best-of-five as the scene shifts to the intimidating atmosphere of the Bell Centre. Before the team boarded their flight to Quebec on Saturday, they took to the ice at KeyBank Center to flush away the frustrations of Game 2. The focus was simple: stop the sloppy puck management and regain the emotional middle ground. Managing the Postseason Mental Game The swings in a seven-game series can be exhausting. Defenseman Bowen Byram recently pointed out that a Game 1 win makes a sweep feel inevitable, while a Game 2 loss makes a quick exit feel certain. It is a stressful cycle, and the Sabres are living it right now....Read More

The hopes of a quick second-round sweep evaporated rapidly on Friday night. The Buffalo Sabres lost Game 2 to the Montreal Canadiens by a decisive 5-1 margin at KeyBank Center. Consequently, this best-of-seven series is now tied at one game apiece as the action shifts north of the border. A Disastrous Start for Buffalo Montreal desperately needed a strong start following their opening-game defeat, and they certainly found it. Alex Newhook redirected a Lane Hutson shot past goaltender Alex Lyon just 96 seconds into the first period. This early marker immediately silenced the raucous home crowd. Furthermore, the Canadiens doubled their advantage less than three minutes later. Following a faceoff win against Ryan McLeod, Mike Matheson fired a point shot through heavy traffic. The puck found its way past a screened Lyon to make it 2-0 before the five-minute mark of the opening period. Missed Opportunities and a Brief Spark Buffalo struggled to find their defensive footing as the game...Read More

The Buffalo Sabres are back at KeyBank Center tonight with a chance to put a stranglehold on their series against the Montreal Canadiens. Following a solid 4-2 victory in the opening contest, Buffalo sits in the driver’s seat. However, the message from the locker room is clear: there is still another level to reach. Coming off a regular season where they secured first place in the Atlantic Division with 109 points, the Sabres are looking to build on their early momentum. A Date with Destiny Tonight is not just another playoff game; it carries significant historical weight for the Buffalo franchise. Currently, the Sabres have a chance to tie their longest-ever playoff winning streak against the Canadiens. A victory tonight would mark six straight post-season wins over Montreal, a feat last accomplished between 1975 and 1990. Furthermore, May 8 has historically been kind to the Blue and Gold. On this day in 1975, the team defeated Montreal to reach their...Read More

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has officially been named a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy. The Professional Hockey Writers Association determines the award each year to recognize the top defenseman in the National Hockey League. Dahlin joins Colorado Avalanche stalwart Cale Makar and Columbus Blue Jackets standout Zach Werenski as the top three vote-getters for this season. Consequently, the Buffalo captain has a chance to make franchise history. The winner will be announced in June. Chasing Sabres History If he takes home the hardware, Dahlin will become the very first player in Sabres history to win the Norris Trophy. Furthermore, he is only the second player in franchise history to even be named a finalist, joining former Buffalo captain Jim Schoenfeld who earned the nod back in the 1979-80 season. This recognition feels incredibly earned after a monumental year. The twenty-seven-year-old blueliner drove the Sabres to a massive 50-23-9 record, accumulating 109 points. Because of his leadership, Buffalo...Read More

The much-anticipated second-round matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens promised fireworks, and the home team wasted absolutely no time lighting the fuse. Riding a wave of momentum from their series-clinching victory over Boston, Buffalo came out of the gate with incredible pace. The Sabres capitalized on early opportunities, leaned on a remarkably efficient power play, and rode a 26-save performance from Alex Lyon to secure a 4-2 victory in Game 1 on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. The win gives Buffalo an immediate 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series, answering the bell after a lengthy layoff while taking advantage of a Montreal squad fresh off a grueling seven-game battle with Tampa Bay. The Kids Are Alright If there were any concerns about rust following a five-day break, Zach Benson and Josh Doan immediately put them to rest. The young duo continued exactly where they left off in the opening round, creating absolute chaos for the Montreal defense from...Read More

Buffalo hockey fans are finally catching their breath. The opening round of the postseason delivered a chaotic and thrilling ride. We witnessed a massive home comeback, a dominant road victory, and some incredibly tense moments. Now, the page turns to the second round. The Buffalo Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at KeyBank Center. This matchup renews a historic division rivalry that traces all the way back to 1973. Both squads arrive fully loaded and highly confident after eliminating perennial Atlantic Division powerhouses. A Dramatic Shift in Playing Style Fans should expect a completely different type of hockey series. Boston wanted to slow the game down. They tried to congest the neutral zone and drag Buffalo into a grinding, physical battle. Montreal plays a vastly different brand of hockey. The Canadiens thrive on pure speed and quick transitions. They finished the regular season seventh in the NHL for rush goals. Buffalo, however, led the entire league in that exact same...Read More

The Buffalo Sabres received a significant boost on the ice at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. Sam Carrick rejoined his teammates for practice as preparations continue for Wednesday’s series opener against the Montreal Canadiens. The veteran fourth-line center has been sidelined since March 31. He injured his left arm during a fight with New York Islanders forward Anders Lee. While the medical team initially projected a four-to-eight-week recovery timeline for the unusual injury, Carrick has progressed rapidly. Tuesday marked exactly five weeks since the incident. Head coach Lindy Ruff indicated the veteran is now absorbing contact in practice. Furthermore, his fitness levels are excellent, making his return to the lineup a day-to-day decision. Immediate Impact and Faceoff Value Carrick skated with extra forwards Tanner Pearson and Josh Dunne during Tuesday’s session. However, the Sabres will likely maintain their Game 6 lineup from the Boston series for Wednesday’s opener. This means Alex Lyon will start in net, and Logan Stanley will remain...Read More

The National Hockey League has officially recognized what fans in Buffalo have known all season. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is a finalist for the 2025-26 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. This prestigious honor recognizes the player who best showcases perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game of hockey. The Professional Hockey Writers Association revealed the top three vote-getters on Monday. Joining Dahlin as finalists are Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog and Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews. Leading Through Heartbreak and Hope Dahlin anchored the Buffalo blue line and guided the franchise to its first playoff appearance since 2011. However, his on-ice achievements tell only a fraction of his story. During a summer vacation in France, his fiancee, Carolina Matovac, suffered sudden heart failure. She spent weeks on life support before undergoing a successful emergency heart transplant. Tragically, the couple also lost their unborn child during this traumatic medical ordeal. Throughout the grueling months of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Dahlin balanced his...Read More