It cannot be denied that the Montreal Canadiens would have been in a better position if they had won the first game of their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.
With that in mind, the 4–2 scoreline in Game 1 was a bit favorable for the Sabres, who scored four goals on their first nine shots. Given how much good luck the Canadiens have enjoyed in the shooting department, we can't dismiss Buffalo's small but efficient offense.
Still, there were some positives to look for as the Habs prepared for Game 2.
montreal canadiens positive
The Habs actually managed to beat the Sabres, and by a fairly wide margin. Montreal held an 18-11 edge in shots on net at 5v5, not to mention a 28-16 lead in all situations.
There are some mitigating factors to consider in this situation, including the fact that Montreal blocked a lot more shots than the Sabres, leading to a huge difference in shots on net. And the Sabers actually produced more high-danger shots than the Canadiens (12-11, all situations).
It's also worth considering that the Habs were trailing the Sabers for the majority of the game, and thus, the score effect came into play.
And yet, the fact that Montreal managed to beat an opponent as talented as the Sabers is a very encouraging sign for a team that rarely beats anyone in the NHL.
Keep in mind, the Canadiens were only 23rd in shot share at 5v5 during the regular season, while the Sabers finished 16th.
The increase in shot volume from the Habs was not only encouraging, but it was a necessary step forward for a team that relies on quality rather than quantity when attempting to score.
Lane Hutson led all Canadians with four shots, although he was tied with forwards Alex Newhook and Juraj Slafkowski. Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov each had three shots apiece, while Cole Caufield, Jake Evans and Noah Dobson had two each.
In other words, most of Montreal's best players were able to make above average shots in the series against the Lightning.
something's Gotta Give
As for Montreal's best players, Suzuki, Slafkowski and Caufield once again failed to score at 5v5, although the Captain did manage to find the back of the net on the power play.
Through eight playoff games, only Suzuki has managed to score at 5v5, which is a red flag when discussing a team that relies on its first line to drive offensive attack.
And yet, Wednesday's game was arguably the first line's best performance at 5v5 since the start of the playoffs.
They put more pucks towards the net than their opponents (9-7), and they were able to generate a respectable amount of movement through the neutral zone, which led to more scoring opportunities from the rush.
This should benefit Caufield, especially for a player who has struggled to find the net after having a career-best season with 51 goals.
Game 1 was far from a masterclass, but it featured a significant increase in shooting opportunities for Caufield and company. This is due in part to the Sabres' style of play. They're suffocating, but they're also hell-bent on creating awkward rushes, which leads to a little more open ice than what we saw in the series vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning.
If the trend continues, expect Caufield to begin finding the back of the net with more regularity than he did with the Sabres.
Moreover, given the success of the first line in the regular season, there is no way left but to go to the playoffs.
canadians can be better
Without trying to make any excuses for the Game 1 loss, it's fair to point out that the Sabers were rested and waited out the Canadiens for several days, while the Habs were coming off a hellish series against the Lightning that included an unreasonable amount of extracurricular activities.
As a result, the Canadiens approached the first period of Game 1 with the same intensity of a wild animal trapped in a gate for several days before finally being rescued.
With a little better preparation, not to mention some rest, the Habs should be able to avoid another multi-goal loss.
All Montreal Canadiens statistics are via Natural Stat Trick.
