Sabres Strike Early, Down Canadiens 4-2 in Series Opener

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 the opening puck drop.

Their impact was felt instantly. Just thirty seconds into the contest, Benson’s relentless forechecking forced Lane Hutson into a tripping penalty. Shortly after the penalty expired, the pair connected for the game’s opening tally.

Benson orchestrated a brilliant sequence in the left circle, utilizing a deceptive leg kick that entirely froze Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes. Instead of shooting, Benson slipped a slick pass behind a sliding defender right to Doan, who easily tapped the puck home on the back door just four and a half minutes into the first period.

Special Teams Tell the Story

Buffalo’s power play served as the ultimate difference-maker in the opening contest. The unit converted on two of their three opportunities, marking their first multi-goal performance on the man advantage this postseason.

Ryan McLeod extended the lead to two goals midway through the first period on the power play. Benson was the catalyst once again, gathering a loose puck in traffic and quickly feeding McLeod on the goal line for a wide-open finish.

After Montreal cut the deficit with a power-play marker of their own late in the first period, the Sabres responded forcefully in the second. Jordan Greenway restored the two-goal cushion by ripping a perfectly placed wrist shot right under the crossbar.

Minutes later, Bowen Byram joined the scoring party with another power-play strike. Byram launched a snap shot from the high slot that beat a heavily screened Dobes. Furthermore, that goal etched Byram into the franchise history books, tying the Buffalo record for the most goals by a defenseman in a single playoff year with four.

Analytics and Betting Market Takeaways

From an analytical and handicapping perspective, Game 1 presented a fascinating box score. The Sabres managed to comfortably cover the puckline despite significantly trailing in several key underlying metrics.

Montreal dominated the possession game, outshooting Buffalo by a wide 28-16 margin. Additionally, the Canadiens controlled the faceoff dot, winning over 62 percent of the draws. However, Buffalo’s clinical finishing and high-danger execution proved to be the ultimate equalizer. The Sabres scored four times on just 16 shots, chasing Dobes from his usual comfort zone after he entered the night sporting a stellar save percentage.

Meanwhile, Lyon remained incredibly steady in the crease for his fifth consecutive start. He turned away 26 shots, only yielding a late second-period goal to Kirby Dach off a chaotic rebound scramble. Lyon’s ability to absorb heavy shot volume without breaking continues to anchor this roster.

Looking Ahead to Friday

The series stays in Western New York for Game 2, scheduled for 7 p.m. this Friday at KeyBank Center. Buffalo will look to hold home ice and take a commanding two-game lead before the matchup shifts north of the border.

Make sure to join the conversation and celebrate the win with the rest of the #Sabrehood over on our Discord server. You can also follow along for live updates, line movement, and period-by-period breakdowns on X at @TheSabresHub.