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The Sabers are where the Habs want them

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The Sabers are where the Habs want them

The Montreal Canadiens (6-5) will face the Buffalo Sabers (6-4) in Game 6 of their second-round series on Saturday, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

The Habs swept the Sabers in Game 5 after Montreal and Buffalo scored four goals each in the first period.

In the middle frame, three consecutive goals from Josh Anderson, Jake Evans and Nick Suzuki put the Canadiens away from the Sabers in the third period.

In Game 5, Ivan Demidov paced the side by scoring on the power play just over three minutes into the third period, sealing a 6–3 victory for Montreal.

With a 3-2 lead, the series shifts back to Montreal where the Canadiens can punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s worth noting for Game 6 that Montreal’s first line finally broke through for a combined seven points on Thursday. Suzuki added two assists to his goal, Juraj Slafkowski provided three assists, and Cole Coffield scored his fourth goal of the playoffs.

Ivan Demidov has certainly made himself a factor on the scoresheet in this series, scoring a goal and two points in Game 5, giving him five points (1G, 4A) in the series.

From the blueline, Lane Hutson is providing on the scoresheet as well. After his second multi-assist game of the series on Thursday, Hutson is up to six assists in five games against Buffalo.

Possible Lineup Changes

As you already know, if Martin St. Louis If any lineup changes are made, he’ll keep them close to the vest. We probably won’t know until warmups, but will update here in the rare case he decides to reveal something.

The Sabers face an interesting dilemma. He gave the net back to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but Lindy Ruff pulled him off Alex Lyon after allowing five goals. So who will be in Buffalo’s goal for Game 6?

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Jake Evans – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Philippe Danault – Josh Anderson

Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Joe Veleno

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier

Lane Hutson – Noah Dobson

Arbor Zekaj – Caden Guhle

jacob dobbs

jacob fowler

Buffalo Sabers Projected Lineup

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Konsta Helenius – Jack Quinn

Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Jordan Greenway – Ryan McLeod – Beck Malensteen

Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Luke Shannon – Connor Timmins

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Alex Lyon

How to watch Hubs Vs. sabers game 6

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, May 16, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

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Canadiens Highlights: Comeback Kings Crush Sabers

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Canadiens Highlights: Comeback Kings Crush Sabers

The Montreal Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabers in Game 5 of their tied second-round series on Thursday night.

A hectic first period paved the way for a dominant effort from the Habs, not to mention a solid 6-3 win.

There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s dive into the highlights!

the way she goes

Buffalo opened the scoring thanks to an accidental bounce, leading to Jason Zucker’s first goal of the playoffs, but it must be said that Alexandre Texier had a chance to clear the zone before the goal, making it another early, unforced error.

As the elders foretold

As we discussed in the ad before Game 5, the first line has done a much better job of producing solid underlying numbers at 5v5, but their lack of goals at this point in the playoffs is absolutely unacceptable.

This may sound harsh, but such is life in professional sports.

The good news is that Cole Caufield scored his first 5v5 goal of the spring on Thursday night, immediately responding to the Sabres’ lucky bounce to tie the game at 1-1.

Unsurprisingly, fellow first liners Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkowski provided assistance.

luck returned

Although the Canadiens were unlucky and lost 1–0 early in the first period, they cannot claim that luck was solely on Buffalo’s side.

Alexandre Texier tied the game at 2-2 with another incredibly fortuitous layup. It was his third goal of the playoffs, with assists from Alexandre Carrier and Philippe Danault. As has been the case all year, Canadiens hockey included a heavy dose of excitement, along with a side order of chaotic defence.

Bananarama

Speaking of chaos, the Sabers re-established their lead shortly after on what can only be described as an incredibly weak goal on Jacob Dobbs.

To Dobbs’ credit, he has clearly been the team’s most valuable player in the playoffs, but there’s no doubt that the entire team groaned when Kostas Helenius scored with a weak wrist shot from distance.

It was just a bad goal, but it was also the Sabers’ first three shots in a row. Dobbs rebounded nicely in the latter part of the frame, but it was clearly a tough start for the 24-year-old netminder.

Faaaaaaaaaair be

As the game began, Dobbs settled in well, and provided excellent goaltending while the Sabers applied pressure in the second period.

phenom

As per tradition, it didn’t take long for the leadership to disappear.

This time, it was phenom Lane Hutson who carried all the burden, giving up an easy goal to veteran Josh Anderson, his third of the playoffs.

No matter how many times I’m lucky enough to witness Hutson’s magic, her ability to command everyone’s attention never ceases to amaze me. If there were a metric for creating time and space for teammates in the offensive zone, I’m sure Hutson would be among the league leaders.

I’d venture to say he’d probably be No. 1 with a bullet, but I digress.

It wouldn’t be a true Canadiens hockey game without an unfair dose of adversity. That’s when hubs are at their best.

Ideally, they won’t have to be in a situation where their back is against the wall before they can find a rhythm, but some things in the game are ideal.

All that matters is that the Canadiens play well when the game is on the line, as evidenced by Ivan Demidov’s nice flurry that resulted in Jake Evans’ first springtime goal.

opening the floodgates

From that point on, the Sabers continued to explode, but mainly because the Canadiens refused to apply the brakes.

Instead of maintaining their lead, they went overboard and this resulted in a flurry of goals.

Suzuki extended the lead to 5–3 with a powerplay goal, although Slafkowski deserves credit for offering a great assist.

rookie effect

Demidov, a player who has had difficulty creating scoring chances in recent games, enjoyed his best game of the playoffs, adding a goal to his assist midway through the third period.

Game 5 was really a case of the Canadiens firing on all cylinders from an offensive standpoint, which bodes well for the upcoming matchup against the Sabres.

Game 6 between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabers is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at 8 PM ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


#Canadiens #Highlights #Comeback #Kings #Crush #Sabers

Canadians hold fate in their hands rather than sabers

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Canadians hold fate in their hands rather than sabers

Now that the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabers have managed to win two games apiece in their second-round series, it’s time to take a look at some of the stats behind the exciting matchup.

While the Canadiens have vastly outshot the Sabres, especially at 5v5, it’s worth noting that the underlying numbers point to a Buffalo team with the ability to take control of the series.

Canadiens Vs. sabers at 5v5

Unlike the series versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Canadiens are actually outscoring their opponents in the second round, but not by a huge margin.

As things stand, the Habs have a 51.9% advantage in shots (162-150), not to mention a 55.7% advantage in shots on net (78-62). This leads to a 9-5 advantage in goals scored at 5v5, which is a very solid output from a team that gets little to no 5v5 goals from its first line.

Once we dig a little more, it becomes clear that the Sabers overperformed with their shots, as they managed to generate slightly more high-danger scoring chances than the Canadiens (38-36), giving them 52.8% of expected goals.

Simply put, the Canadiens are working on quantity, while the Sabers are focusing on quality.

Impact of special teams

Head coach Martin St-Louis didn’t mince words when discussing the Game 4 loss.

“I think special teams played a huge role,” St. Louis said. “It’s hard to believe we only got one goal on the power play. I felt like we had a lot of chances. Our captain and goalkeeper played well, Dobbs also kept us in. We didn’t have a good start.”

Let’s unpack that statement in sections.

He’s absolutely right that special teams played a huge role.

Montreal had seven powerplay opportunities, and only managed to score on one, while the Sabers scored twice with the four man advantage.

A little more traffic in front of the Sabers netminder will likely provide additional second-chance scoring opportunities, but for the most part, they are generating a fair number of quality scoring chances on the power play. He just lacked the finish on Tuesday.

As far as their captain is concerned, it is worth noting that the first line’s play was impressive from a statistical point of view. When Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Caufield were on the ice, the Habs controlled over 80% of the shots and 75% of high-danger scoring opportunities. It was a good game from a process standpoint, but now that the Canadiens are in the second round of the playoffs, results are more important than solid underlying numbers.

First line production needs to start, and they have no grace period left to get there.

Fortunately, all signs point to this trio being ready to explode on offense.

As for the third comment, regarding their poor start, you would find it hard to disagree with the head coach, but it would also be fair to say that this falls under the preparation category, and that duty is, at least partly, the coaching staff’s.

Truth be told, there is always room for improvement, but all things considered it is incredibly encouraging for the Canadiens to be two wins away from the Eastern Conference Finals just a few years into their rebuild.

And if they can continue to be a dominant goal-scoring force at 5v5, that will go a long way to helping them hold a significant advantage over the remaining three-game series, but they will need a little help from their special teams guys to accomplish this impressive feat.

All Montreal Canadiens statistics via Natural Stat Trick.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

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Canadiens and Sabers players fined for Game 3 violence

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Canadiens and Sabers players fined for Game 3 violence

The NHL has announced two fines following Game 3 of the second-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.

The first was Sabers forward Beck Malensteen, who ran down Habs goaltender Jacob Dobbs in the second period. Malenstein never attempted to stop, hitting Dobbs at full speed in what looked like a clear attempt to injure the rookie netminder.

Malensteen was fined $3,515.63, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.

Game 3 saw a significant increase in goalie-related moves, with the Sabers attempting to disrupt Dobbs as often as possible.

The good news for the Canadiens is that Dobbs remained in the game, and was in good enough mood to chat up the Sabers bench after Juraj Slafkowski took advantage of the ensuing power play.

Xhekaj fined

The second penalty was awarded to Habs defenseman Arbor Zekaj, who decided it was a good idea to throw a pair of gloved punches at the end of the game, and felled Sabers forward Sam Carrick at the final whistle.

It was an ugly play, and although some may justify the action by pointing to several poor plays made by the Sabers early in the game, there really is no place for that in a hockey game.

Czekaj has been particularly efficient in the playoffs, producing excellent numbers on the third pairing, meaning the Canadiens are lucky not to have to lose him due to suspension, but they must be careful not to let emotions boil over moving forward. He performs at his best when he walks the line, not when he goes past it.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


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Canadiens Highlights: Statement Win Drops Sabers

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Canadiens Highlights: Statement Win Drops Sabers

The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabers on Sunday night, attempting to establish a 2-1 series lead at the Bell Centre.

It was another impressive game from the Habs, resulting in a 6-2 win, a win that could change the entire makeup of a playoff series.

Let’s look at the highlights!

Newfoundland Power

As we discussed in the game preview, Montreal’s depth players are doing wonders to make up for the lack of attack from the first line, and one of the most important Canadiens in that regard is none other than Alex Newhook.

The speedy winger scored his fourth goal of the playoffs to tie the game at the end of the first period. It was also an important goal as the Habs were the better team in the first period, but were at risk entering the first intermission with a goal deficit.

star power

Another topic we discussed in the preview was the possibility that Juraj Slafkowski or Cole Caufield would find their offensive rhythm, making the Habs a team that no longer relies solely on first-line or depth players, but on both.

They are a dangerous team, especially in the playoffs.

On that note, Caufield scored his second springtime goal after a tremendous deke by phenom Lane Hutson, giving the Canadiens a nice 2-1 lead.

You could argue that the Canadiens were robbed of a third goal when Philippe Danault was accused of interference on Lyon without any evidence.

back to depth

Rather than rest on their accomplishments, the Habs continued to press the game, resulting in a 3–1 lead when Joe Veleno beat his opponent to set up Zachary Bolduc for his second goal of the playoffs.

Once again, depth players made significant contributions, which is a recurring theme for the Canadiens.

Dobe’s Revenge

At this point in the game, the Sabers decided to increase foul play, culminating with the apparent intent to injure netminder Jacob Dobbs.

Beck Malensteen skated into Dobbs without attempting to make a break, however, the Canadiens goaltender simply shook off, and managed to stay in the game.

The Canadiens only got a two-minute power play due to a dirtbag play, but that was long enough for Slafkowski to tip in a Hutson point shot, giving the home team a 4–1 lead.

You’ll notice that Dobbs made sure to thank the Sabers for the opportunity to score on the man advantage.

icing on the cake

To put a nice mark on the entire team effort, Dach restored Montreal’s three-goal lead midway through the third period.

At a glance, it might not have seemed like a very important goal, but it came after a push by Buffalo that resulted in some high-danger chances. Dobbs was up to the task, but it couldn’t be denied that the pressure from the road team was mounting.

perfection

The Sabers got their goal with about five minutes remaining in the third period, which was a logical choice given the 5–2 scoreline.

However, Newhook managed to foul out Rasmus Dahlin shortly after, securing another two-goal game for the Newfoundlander. As an added bonus, his mother was in the crowd to watch her son steal the show at the Bell Center.

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday facing the Sabers at the Bell Center for Game 4. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


#Canadiens #Highlights #Statement #Win #Drops #Sabers

Dominant wins even series against Sabers

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Dominant wins even series against Sabers

The Montreal Canadiens were in Buffalo on Friday night, hoping to tie the series with the Sabers before returning to Quebec.

It was one of the Habs’ best games of the playoffs, an impressive effort resulting in a comfortable 5–1 win.

The Sabers allowed more hits than the Canadiens, but it was a case of the home team chasing for most of the game.

In every metric that mattered, the Canadiens were the better team.

Let’s look at the highlights!

he is a boy

The Habs needed a strong start, a rare thing when examining their season, to avoid suffering another loss against a suffocating opponent.

Newfoundlander Alex Newhook scored his second goal of the playoffs less than two minutes into the first period, with assists from Caden Guhle and Lane Hutson. The latter, in particular, enjoyed an absolutely fantastic outing on Friday night.

Second

The Canadiens didn’t rest on their laurels and doubled their lead moments later when Mike Matheson’s excellent point shot found the back of the net.

All things considered, this was easily Montreal’s best time in the playoffs. They were effective at 5v5, as shown by their 7–0 advantage in high-danger scoring chances.

This might even be Montreal’s best time this season.

Enlist you Newfoundlanders and follow me!

Newhook was not satisfied with his only goal.

He scored his third goal of the playoffs early in the second period, through a brilliant pass from veteran Jake Evans.

Given that Montreal’s first line has struggled to generate anything resembling the offense it did in the regular season, it must be said that Montreal’s depth players have done a great job of helping the Habs overcome a very difficult situation.

We also have to give full marks to Noah Dobson on this play, as he took a big hit to start the rush.

dolly dagger

The Sabers ended Dobbs’ shutout bid, leading to Zach Benson taunting the Canadiens netminder in what can only be described as a desperate attempt to throw him off his game.

But Dobbs lives for that type of thing.

Benson adopted only Greece.

Dobbs was born in this.

Molded by.

He lives to chirp, and chirps to live.

It’s surprising, Or notBenson’s whizzing effort did little more than boost the Habs’ effort, not to mention a great goal by defenseman Alexandre Carrier to put his team up 4–1.

(editor’s Note:The tweet below erroneously mentions “Logan Thompson”. In fact, it was Sabers forward Tage Thompson.)

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Sunday facing the Sabers at the Bell Center for Game 3. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


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Important match-ups for Game 2 vs. Sabers

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Important match-ups for Game 2 vs. Sabers

The Montreal Canadiens (4-4) will face the Buffalo Sabers (5-2) in Game 2 of their second-round series on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Habs dropped Game 1, although the 4–2 scoreline was slightly favorable to the host Sabres, a team that had scored four goals on its first nine shots. That doesn’t mean they didn’t deserve to win the game, but there were some key factors that suggest Montreal might have better luck in Game 2.

The first line, in particular, had an encouraging game, which is important, as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkowski have had a very hard time making an impact at 5v5. And as we all know, a team without a functional first line is barely a team, especially in the playoffs.

With that in mind, we shouldn’t overlook Suzuki’s impact, as he currently leads the Canadiens with seven points in eight games.

Montreal also received significant and regular offensive contributions from its depth players, which was a recurring theme in April and May. This certainly wasn’t the case for most of the regular season, but fans certainly won’t be looking a gift horse in the mouth at this point in the schedule.

Players like Kirby Dach, Alex Texier and Josh Anderson have done wonders to complement the goal output, including a stellar individual effort from Dach in Game 1.

Possible Lineup Changes

The Canadiens did not practice Friday or make their players available to the media.

Given that this is the playoffs, any changes to the lineup will have to be confirmed after the teams take the ice for pre-game warm-ups.

Head coach Martin Saint-Louis seemed quite satisfied with his team’s performance in Game 1, suggesting there will not be any major changes in Game 2.

However, don’t be surprised if he revises his third pairing and fourth line, with Jaden Struble potentially replacing Arbor Zekaj while Joe Velano makes way for Brendan Gallagher.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Jake Evans – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Philippe Danault – Josh Anderson

Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Joe Veleno*

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier

Caden Guhle – Lane Hutson

Arbor Zekaj* – Noah Dobson

jacob dobbs

jacob fowler

Buffalo Sabers Projected Lineup

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malensteen

Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Logan Stanley – Connor Timmins

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

How to watch Hubs Vs. saber

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres, Friday, May 8, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


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Possible lineup changes in G1 vs. Sabers

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Possible lineup changes in G1 vs. Sabers

The Montreal Canadiens (4-3) will face the Buffalo Sabers (4-2) in Game 1 of their series on Wednesday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Canadiens needed seven games to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first-round series, with netminder Jacob Dobbs serving as their most valuable player. The Sabers needed only six games to eliminate the Boston Bruins, with goaltender Alex Lyons providing a strong effort while also guarding the net.

With this in mind, the series is not expected to be particularly high scoring, but there is a good chance that some games in the second round series will have more scoring opportunities than previous games.

Statistically speaking, the gap between the Canadiens and Sabers is not as stark as it is between the Habs and the Lightning, which means head coach Martin Saint-Louis’ team may face a tough challenge in the second round, but not an impossible one.

As always, the team with the best start in Game 1 will hold a significant advantage going forward, and given that they are both young, talented clubs, the first period of the first game could go a long way in determining the overall winner of the series.

Possible Lineup Changes

Saint-Louis is keeping its cards close to its chest, but based on practice reports, it looks like Arbor Zekaj will be back in the lineup. Czekaj is a physical player, but he also put up some great underlying statistics in the first round, a reminder that players excel when they get some degree of consistency from the coaching staff.

Joe Velano is also expected to be inserted into the Game 1 lineup, with veteran Brendan Gallagher potentially making way for the Montreal native. The 26-year-old Velano has yet to appear in a playoff game for the Canadiens, but he was one of the players with the most physical depth in the lineup throughout the regular season.

Of course, whether the depth players perform or not, the Canadiens will need more consistency from their top line, which struggled at 5v5 in the first period. Nick Suzuki managed to score a 5v5 goal, but he was the only member of the top trio to do so against the Lightning.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Jake Evans – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Philippe Danault – Josh Anderson

Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Joe Veleno

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier

Caden Guhle – Lane Hutson

Arbor Zekaj – Noah Dobson

jacob dobbs

jacob fowler

Buffalo Sabers Projected Lineup

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malensteen

Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Logan Stanley – Connor Timmins

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

How to watch Hubs Vs. saber

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

#lineup #Sabers

Canadiens Highlights: Sabers Strike First

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Canadiens Highlights: Sabers Strike First

The Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Buffalo Sabers on Wednesday night, with both teams attempting to pick up a statement win in the first game of their second-round series.

Before puck drop, a pair of lineup changes were confirmed by head coach Martin Saint-Louis. Joe Velano was used in his first playoff game, centering the fourth line between Zachary Bolduc and Kirby Dach, while Arbor Zekaj was paired with Noah Dobson on the third pairing.

The Habs managed to outpoint the Sabres, but it was not enough to ensure the victory, as Buffalo emerged with a 4–2 victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

saber strike

As is often the case in hockey, a strong play at one end of the ice can lead to an immediate goal at the other end. After a play in which Lane Hutson hit the crossbar, he proceeded to cough up the puck at Montreal’s blue line, creating a 3v1 for the Sabres.

Noah Dobson attempted to slide to break up the pass, but failed to make an impact, resulting in Josh Doan’s second goal of the playoffs and a 1–0 Sabers lead.

final reaction

The Sabers would take a two-goal lead before the Canadiens could respond, although it must be said that the teams were fairly evenly matched at 5v5. More than anything, the powerplay dictated the pace.

Speaking of which, the Habs needed a power play before finding the back of the net. They also needed a precise pass from Juraj Slafkowski and a smart finish from captain Nick Suzuki to cut the Sabers’ lead to 2–1.

first banana

It must be said that Jacob Dobbs was Montreal’s Most Valuable Player in the first round, but he did not enjoy his best game of the playoffs on Wednesday night.

He wasn’t terrible by any means, but for the first time since the regular season ended we saw a version of Dobbs that lacked confidence, let alone poise.

The Sabers scored four times on nine shots, although two of those goals came on the power play. To Dobbs’ credit, most of the shots were good scoring opportunities, and the defensemen playing in front of him were generous with gifts.

tertiary scoring

With the Sabers leading 4-1, fourth-line forward Kirby Dach picked the perfect time to inject some energy into the mix through a great individual effort and a beautiful goal.

The second chance marker, which involved typical hand-eye coordination, cut the lead to 4-2, but more importantly, brought the Habs back into the game at a time when they were in danger of quietly disappearing. Instead, they had more than 20 minutes to ensure that they provided an honest effort to open the series.

To Montreal’s credit, they applied pressure, and spent much of the third period on Buffalo’s end, but it was all in vain, as the Sabers held on long enough to defeat the Canadiens 4–2.

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Friday facing the Sabers in Buffalo. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


#Canadiens #Highlights #Sabers #Strike

Sabers Series Preview, Demidov Calder, Pickford

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Sabers Series Preview, Demidov Calder, Pickford

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed Tuesday.

montreal canadiens news

  • The Buffalo Sabers should be considered the favorites in the second round of the NHL playoffs, but the discrepancy between the Sabers and Habs is not significant. Statistically speaking, they are much more evenly matched than the Canadiens and Lightning. All things considered, this should be another tightly contested series. [Canadiens Vs. Sabres Series Preview: Head-To-Head]
  • Slovak forward Juraj Slafkowski is not feeling any effects from the first-round series against the Lightning, and he has a great way to describe his current health status.
  • Canadian prospect Bryce Pickford was named the top defenseman in the WHL, which is not surprising when we consider he enjoyed a standout season from an offensive standpoint. In 55 regular season games, Pickford scored an incredible 45 goals and 38 assists. He would add 12 more points to his tally in the playoffs.
  • It’s hard not to avoid naming Darren Reddish’s wasted goal in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Lightning as the NHL’s ‘Moment of the Round’. Does someone want to tell the NHL that the Lightning actually lost that game, let alone the series?
  • It is to Nikita Kucherov’s credit that he loses with much more grace than he wins, although there is a very low threshold to explain this.
  • We have to give it to Jacob Dobbs, this is a solid chuckle in the heat of the moment, and it turns out he was right.
  • The Laval Rocket evened their series against the Toronto Marlies (2-2) with an impressive 4-0 win on Tuesday. Alex Belzile (2), Samuel Blais (2, 3), and Laurent Dauphin (2) provided the goals for Laval, while Kaapo Kahkonen stopped all 18 shots sent his way to secure the shutout.

Sportsknot Network

  • The NHL Draft Lottery took place on Tuesday night, and believe it or not, the Toronto Maple Leafs were awarded the No. 1 overall pick.
  • It was believed that the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights would be a classic encounter of heated rivals who have stood in each other’s way for many years. Instead, it was the upstart Anaheim Ducks, who proceeded to play one of their best defensive games of the playoffs and send the Golden Knights to overtime in Game 1 of their round two series. [Vegas Golden Knights]
  • New Jersey Devils forwards Nico Hischier and Timo Meier are set to represent Switzerland at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship, being held from May 15 to May 31, 2026 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. [New Jersey Devils]
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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


#Sabers #Series #Preview #Demidov #Calder #Pickford

Sabers Series Preview: Head-to-Head Statistics

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Sabers Series Preview: Head-to-Head Statistics

The Montreal Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabers in the second round of the 2026 NHL playoffs. As we did in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, we will preview the series by analyzing some of the most important 5v5 statistics powering teams during the regular season.

Next we’ll look at how the Sabers and Habs performed when they faced each other on four occasions. We’ll also evaluate special teams and x-factors in a follow-up article.

Canadiens and Sabers regular-season statistics (5v5)

Like the Lightning, the Sabers are expected to have the edge at 5v5 based on regular season results, but the discrepancy between the Habs and Sabers is much less noticeable.

In other words, even though the Sabers take more shots, score more expected goals, and have a greater share of high-danger scoring opportunities, the Canadiens are definitely still in the mix.

Shooting and goaltending

The Sabers have the advantage as far as netminding goes, although we must remember that Montreal’s regular season numbers include Samuel Montembeault’s results.

During the playoffs, rookie goaltender Jacob Dobbs has produced a .923 save percentage (all situations), though the Sabers have also received excellent netminding from Alex Lyon, who is sporting an impressive .955 save percentage.

Once again, Montreal’s only advantage in the regular season was shooting percentage, although Buffalo was also a top-5 team in that regard. They are also a better team when it comes to their high-danger shooting efficiency.

Target

The final metrics are fairly straightforward.

The Canadiens scored a lot of goals, but the Sabers did a slightly better job. The same can be said about his ability to reduce opponents’ goal scoring.

Canadiens Vs. Sabers Head-to-Head Statistics

To get a better idea of ​​how they played head-to-head, we pulled the numbers from their four meetings in the regular season. Both teams won few games, and each game was played before February. In other words, a lot has changed since then, but it’s still worth keeping in mind.

The Canadiens outshot the Sabers at 5v5 (8–6), and yet, Buffalo held the edge in shot share, expected goals and high-danger scoring opportunities, though there was no notable difference in the latter.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

The numbers suggest the Sabers are the favorites, but that’s not a surprise.

And dismissing the Hubs in this series certainly isn’t enough. It won’t be easy to emerge from the seven-game series with a win, and they will once again be considered underdogs, but the Canadians have a strange way of bringing out their best when they are facing adversity.

In fact, the Lightning had the advantage in almost every statistical category going into the first round of the NHL playoffs, and yet, the Canadiens still found a way to win.

Buffalo’s style of play is slightly more aggressive than Tampa’s, in that they out-muscle their opponents, reducing the number of passing and skating lanes available and thus creating a no-fly zone between the blue lines.

If that’s not disappointing, it’s a particularly efficient strategy to deal with a situation that should push the league’s youngest team to its limits.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont


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Bruins’ key return could make Sabers even stronger in elimination game

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Bruins’ key return could make Sabers even stronger in elimination game

After a 6-1 loss on Sunday, the Buffalo Sabers could be even stronger on Tuesday.

The Sabers have beaten the odds in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins with a mix of momentum and growing injury concerns.

In Sunday’s decisive Game 4 victory, the Sabers recorded a dominant 6–1 victory.

However, the game came at a material cost. Forwards Tyson Kozak and Jason Zucker both left in the third period and did not return.

Head coach Lindy Ruff explained that the decision was precautionary. He said the team’s substantial lead allowed them to prioritize player health rather than pushing the injured duo back onto the ice.

“Just treat them and leave them in the dressing room, where the game was going on,” Ruff said after the game.

Additionally, forward Josh Norris missed his second consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury. Ruff confirmed that Norris remains day-to-day, a status that keeps him questionable for upcoming competitions.

current injury report

  • Josh Norris, F (undeclared): Out April 21st. Missed Games 3 and 4 of the series; day to day.
  • Sam Carrick, F (left wing): Out since March 31 after suffering an injury during a fight. Week-to-week and expected to miss the first round.

long term injuries

  • Jiri Kulich, F (blood clot): Out November 1st. Originally projected to miss the season, he has resumed non-contact skating, but is still sidelined.
  • Justin Danforth, F (lower body): Out since October 15 due to knee injury. Due to persistent pain after surgery, recovery is continued by skating intermittently.

These absences test the Sabres’ depth as they struggle for series control.

Despite some injuries, the Sabres’ resiliency has been surprising. They are relying on strong performance from goaltender Alex Lyons and emerging key contributors from rookie forward Noah Ostlund.

The series moved 3–1 in favor of the Sabers to Buffalo for Game 5. If home ice wasn’t enough to put the nail in Boston’s coffin, perhaps the return of Norris and avoiding the worst with Zucker and Kozak is.

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

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Sabers offense explodes in Dominant win; Bruins’ anger boiled over

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Sabers offense explodes in Dominant win; Bruins’ anger boiled over

Forget the wagon. The Buffalo Sabers are a freight train.

In Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup at TD Garden, the Sabers posted a dominant 6–1 victory over the Boston Bruins to take a 3–1 series lead.

Buffalo scored four goals in the first period to take an unassailable 4–0 lead and defeated Boston 19–5.

Peyton Krebs opened the scoring at 15:43 on an assist from Alex Tuch in his second match of the playoffs. Josh Doane and Zack Benson quickly followed, with Doane scoring his first goal – assisted by Ryan McLeod and Bowen Byram – and Benson capitalizing on a Doane feed.

Byram ended the first period barrage at 5:36 with his third goal of the playoffs, set up by Owen Power and Jack Quinn.

Boston came out strongly in the second period, defeating the Sabers 10–4, but Alex Lyon stood tall in net for Buffalo, turning away every chance to preserve the shutout for 40 minutes.

The Sabers took the lead on the Bruins in the third period, when Beck Malensteen and Tuch scored Buffalo’s fifth and sixth goals a little more than a minute apart to increase the lead to 6–0.

Lyon nearly recorded a shutout before Sean Kuraly scored with 40 seconds remaining to make the game 6–1.

Tempers boiled over with a barrage of penalties in the final minutes: minor deductions on Benson and Hampus Lindholm, a heated exchange between David Pastrnak and Krebs.

But Nikita Zadorov showed the least composure, charged with a game misconduct and receiving a five-minute penalty for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin.

Boston finished with 42 hits to Buffalo’s 23, but could not convert its physical advantage on offense.

Lyon earned first-star honors with 23 saves on 24 shots (.958 SV%). Byram and Tuch (each with a goal and an assist) were rounded out with three stars.

The Sabers and Bruins head back to Boston for Game 5, where Buffalo has a chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

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How Sabers rookie Noah Ostlund stole the show in his playoff debut

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How Sabers rookie Noah Ostlund stole the show in his playoff debut

A little number 86 flying around the ice playing with the puck on his stick? That must be Jack Hughes, right? Actually, it’s Buffalo Sabers rookie, Noah Ostlund.

When the Sabers learned they were losing Josh Norris to injury in Game 3, it caused a bit of panic.

Buffalo is well ahead of Ostlund, whom they selected 16th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. However, a rookie making his playoff debut in place of a proven impact NHL forward is a big question.

Despite his initial nervousness, Ostlund didn’t let the horror of the moment overwhelm him.

“Maybe a little nervousness the first two innings,” Ostlund said with a smile. “But it also goes away very quickly.”

After a scoreless first period on Thursday night, the Boston Bruins took a 1-0 lead on the stick of Tanner Jeannott just over three minutes into the middle frame.

However, the Sabers did not bow. And finally answered.

About seven minutes after the opening goal, Ostlund advanced the puck through the neutral zone and over the Boston blueline to enter the clean zone. He slipped through the Bruins defense and down the goal line with the puck, and fed Bowen Byram at the top of the right circle for a one-time chance that beat goaltender Jeremy Swayman to tie the game at one.

Ostlund’s elusive playmaking certainly took the volatile Swayman by surprise. Nevertheless, he surprised even Byram from close.

“To be honest, he surprised me a little bit there,” Byram said. “I wasn’t sure he would make it to me. It was surreal to have him go through it.”

While the Sabers rookie turned some heads with his vision and playmaking, Ostlund shrugged it off as just another game.

“I looked at him all the way, and then [Josh Doan] Did a good job running the net,” he said. “So that lane opened up.”

The Sabers rookie put the nail in the coffin on Thursday to solidify their 3-1 win and take a 2-1 series lead. After Alex Tuch scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, Lindy Ruff iced Ostlund late in the third period when the Bruins pulled Swayman for an extra attacker.

“For his first playoff game with us, he gets an A-plus,” Ruff said.

Ostlund netted an empty-net goal as time expired to take Game 3 at TD Garden – his first goal in the playoffs.

Ostlund had a promising rookie season. He scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games. While he went scoreless in his first eight games since his 2024-25 debut, it’s clear that the Sabres’ rise to the plate has benefited Ostlund’s development.

However, his best game to date was probably Thursday night.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Ostlund-led line with Zach Benson and Jack Quinn led the Sabers in expected goal share with an 89.98 xGF% all night.

In fact, during 5-on-5 play, they didn’t allow a single scoring chance against Ostlund and company on the ice.

Before last night, Ostlund had not played in nearly a month after suffering an upper body injury – ironically on March 25 against the Sabres.

Still, his immediate impact upon returning to the lineup stunned his teammates, singing his praises in the locker room Thursday night.

“I mean, jumping right in, he hasn’t played a game in a few weeks, it’s his first playoff hockey game in his rookie year, and the guy gets (a goal) and (an assist). It’s special,” Tuch said. “I mean, the hockey IQ is off the charts. But honestly, competing, he went in every single inning, made a difference every single inning, and he was phenomenal.”

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

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The Sabers scored three consecutive goals to take a 2-1 series lead over the Bruins.

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The Sabers scored three consecutive goals to take a 2-1 series lead over the Bruins.

Get back on the wagon. The Buffalo Sabers know how to counter-attack.

The Sabers won 3–1 over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in Game 3, taking a 2–1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

After the loss of Ukka Pekka-Luukkonen in Game 2, Lindy Ruff chose goaltender Alex Lyon – who was excellent. Lyon turned down 24 of 25 shots for a .960 save percentage, while the Sabers effectively controlled the game despite a scoreless first period.

Boston had its first bloody play early in the second period when Tanner Jeannott headed past Lyon at 3:26 on an assist from Charlie McAvoy to take a 1–0 lead.

However, the Sabers responded quickly. Bowen Byram tied it 1-1 at 10:58 of the second minute with a wrist shot set up by Noah Ostlund and Owen Power. Buffalo outshot Boston 8–6 in the period and carried the momentum into halftime.

The third period was that of the visitors. Alex Tuch (one of the game’s three stars) gave Buffalo its first lead at 4:03, making snap shots past Peyton Krebs and Byram for a 2–1 lead.

The Sabers played hard defensively and limited Boston’s chances, with Lyon making several key stops. Noah Ostlund—who was making his Stanley Cup playoff debut in place of the injured Josh Norris—sealed the win with an empty-netter at 18:36 off an assist from Jack Quinn, making the score 3–1.

Buffalo scored with 28 shots to Boston’s 25. Neither team converted on the power play (0-for-5 for BUF, 0-for-4 for BOS), but the Sabers were more disciplined overall and won key faceoffs (51% to 49%). The physical game began late on with several scuffles and cross-checking penalties after the whistle in the final minutes.

The Sabers and Bruins will get some rest here, next up for Game 4 on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

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Sabers’ forward out for Game 3; Skilled rookie set for playoff debut

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Sabers’ forward out for Game 3; Skilled rookie set for playoff debut

Joshua Norris can’t seem to catch a break. The Buffalo Sabers will be without their starting center for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Norris is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after not feeling well after Game 2. The 26-year-old veteran did not suffer any major injuries in the last competition, but illness has ruled him out for at least one game.

This is certainly a significant short-term setback for Buffalo – especially after losing to the Bruins in Game 2 which allowed Boston to tie the series 1-1.

Norris, in his first playoff action, was a reliable contributor in the opening two games. He averaged over 16 minutes on the ice, recorded six hits, won 53.1% of faceoffs, and helped the Sabers control 61.1% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 with him on the ice.

During the regular season, he scored 34 points in 44 games despite missing time due to upper body problems, providing valuable secondary scoring and depth from a third-line role.

Fortunately, the return of rookie Noah Ostlund is giving the Sabers a timely boost. The morning line rush showed the 2022 first-round pick slotting directly into Norris’ place as the third-line center, with presumably familiar wingers next to him.

Ostlund, set to make his Stanley Cup playoff debut, had been sidelined since March 25 with an upper-body injury against Boston – nearly a month on the shelf – but seemed ready to contribute after a solid rookie campaign in which he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games.

While Ostlund brings skill, hockey sense and two-way ability, there are some concerns. Deployed primarily on the wing during the season, he has struggled on faceoffs (31.5% win rate) and is a smaller, less physical player (5’11”, 180 pounds), which has been a tough series. Buffalo has already thrown 83 hits through two games, highlighting the physical disadvantage.

The Sabers would ideally like to see both players healthy, but Ostlund’s entry provides depth and youth as they try to storm back into the series. Game 3 in Boston could depend on how effectively the third line performs without Norris’ experience and how Ostlund handles the increased responsibility in a high-risk environment.

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

#Sabers #Game #Skilled #rookie #set #playoff #debut

Goalkeeper crisis already? Sabers face dilemma after Game 2 spiral

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Goalkeeper crisis already? Sabers face dilemma after Game 2 spiral

The Buffalo Sabers weren’t about to fool the Boston Bruins twice.

The Sabers stunned the Bruins with four third period goals to steal Game 1 of the series between the Atlantic Division foes.

However, Boston got its revenge in Game 2, scoring three goals in the middle frame, and another quick goal early in the third on Tuesday night, resulting in a 4–2 Bruins victory that tied the series with Buffalo.

Sabers goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen blamed himself.

“It’s my fault,” Luukkonen said. “There is no way around it.”

Trailing 1-0 on the backend of the second period, the Bruins’ Morgan Geikie delivered a backhanded clear lob from center ice to the Sabres’ zone. A favorable layup went Boston’s way, Luukkonen calmly dodged it to give the Bruins a 2–0 lead.

That’s when the game started to spiral for the Sabres.

Tage Thompson took an interference penalty shortly thereafter, leading to Pavel Zacha’s first goal of the series on the power play and a 3–0 lead for Boston.

“It’s a bad bounce, but there’s no way to avoid it. It can’t go in,” Luukkonen said. “I kind of read a bad read about it, but that’s about it. I was trying to get to it before it flipped, but when you start questioning yourself and doing things like that, you get bad bounces. It’s unfortunate, but you’ve got to play through it.”

Well, Luukkonen missed only 16 seconds of the third period, allowing Viktor Arvidsson to score his second goal of the night to make the game 4–0. Sabers head coach Lindy Ruff immediately pulled him for Alex Lyons.

And as Luukkonen said, he clearly questioned himself.

Ruff turned to Alex Lyons for the remainder of the third period and suddenly Buffalo’s confidence was restored.

The Lyon side made his job easy as he only saw seven shots and made seven saves.

That’s because Buffalo played most of the final frame in the offensive zone, outscoring Jeremy Swayman on 20 shots in the third period and scoring twice on the sticks of Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs.

In fact, Ruff even said that Game 3 could go to Lyon instead of Luukkonen.

“I think if you look at the year and the way it unfolded and how successful we were when we were rotating goaltenders, and then Alex [Lyon] Got injured, so he missed a few games, but just felt there might be a chance we would need him,” Ruff said. “Could play the next game, but just give him a period of playing time, because he hasn’t played in a while.”

This is where inexperience could hurt them for the Sabres.

Buffalo began the 2025–26 season quite inconsistently, but proceeded to win the Atlantic Division through December for the rest of the season.

However, this is the first time in 14 seasons that the Sabers have been back to the playoffs. Most of the roster, including Luukkonen, had never held the position before.

Luukkonen and Lyon split the load for the surging Sabers this season. However, it is ideal to hopefully make a run with a goaltender in the postseason

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

#Goalkeeper #crisis #Sabers #face #dilemma #Game #spiral

Late Sabers Push Not Enough, Bruins Win Feisty Game 2

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Late Sabers Push Not Enough, Bruins Win Feisty Game 2

The Buffalo Sabers swept the Boston Bruins in their victory in Game One. However, B could not be caught sleeping twice.

The Bruins earned a 4-2 win over the Sabers at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night, tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1 on the evening. After being held scoreless in the first period, Boston scored three goals in the second and another in the third before a late push by Buffalo.

Victor Arvidsson opened the scoring with a backhand shot at 4:54 of the second period, assisted by Jonathan Espirot and Casey Mittelstaedt. Morgan Geikie made it 2-0 on a backhand assist from David Pastrnak and Sean Kuraly at 16:29 of the second. Pavel Zacha scored a power-play goal at 18:10 (assists: Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy) to give Boston a 3–0 lead in the third.

Arvidsson scored his second goal just 16 seconds into the third period – on assists from Espirot and McEvoy – increasing the lead to 4–0.

Sabers coach Lindy Ruff opted to pull goaltender Ukko Pekka Luukkonen after surrendering four goals after 40:16 of the game. Alex Lyon manned the Buffalo net for the remainder of the tilt, and made seven saves on seven shots in relief.

The Sabers responded late, with Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scoring in the final frame to make the score 4–2. A flurry of harsh penalties and misconducts occurred in the third, including a fight between Mark Kastelic and Logan Stanley, which increased the tension.

sabers pulled

Final shots were Boston 26, Buffalo 21. Jeremy Swayman got the win in net for Boston with strong play after the first period, while Buffalo’s goaltenders faced heavy pressure. Boston went 1 of 6 on the power play; Buffalo was 0 for 5.

The Bruins’ timely scoring and defensive structure in the first 40 minutes proved decisive, although Buffalo showed late fight. Game three moves to Boston on Thursday.

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

#Late #Sabers #Push #Bruins #Win #Feisty #Game

Caps upset red-hot Sabers in Buffalo

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Caps upset red-hot Sabers in Buffalo

The Washington Capitals (33-27-7) go up against a tough opponent on Thursday night. Thankfully, they were able to pull out a 2-1 upset win over the Buffalo Sabers (40-10-6).

It wasn’t easy though, as the Capitals got off to a slow start. Sam Carrick got Buffalo on the board early as the Sabers looked for their ninth consecutive win.

However, the Capitals took the lead in the middle frame as Ryan Leonard tied it with a tally. The rookie now has goals in three consecutive games.

Charlie Lindgren was also impressive against a fiery Buffalo team. The 32-year-old netminder stopped shot after shot and finished with 29 saves.

“Again, the character of this team — just going out and continuing to fight,” Lindgren said. “It was fun to watch. I thought we played very well the last 40 minutes.”

Late in regulation, the Capitals got just what they needed as Jacob Chykrun scored the game-winner with 1:33 remaining. Washington kept their playoff hopes alive as they handed Buffalo their first loss since Feb. 5.

After that, the Capitals will return home for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Boston.

capitals analysis

After a blowout 4-1 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday, the Capitals knew they would face a big test the next evening. Buffalo entered Thursday as one of the top teams in the NHL after years of futility.

The Sabers took the lead early and led 1–0 in the opening period. Former Capital Beck Malensteen skated in and slid the puck past Carrick in front for the tally.

Fortunately, Lindgren was able to shut out Buffalo the rest of the way. The netminder got the start after Logan Thompson played last night in Philadelphia.

The Capitals were also successful on the penalty kill late in the first. Olympic gold medalist Tage Thompson fired five consecutive one-timers, but none of them went in.

The second period is when the Capitals really started playing well. Trailing 1-0, Leonard skated up the ice with the puck and hit a wicked shot to tie it 1-1.

The 21-year-old registered his 14th goal of the season in the process. He extended his goal streak to three games and his point streak to five.

Due to the match being very competitive, the match remained tied at 1-1. After being outshot in the first two periods, the Capitals outscored Buffalo 13–4 in the third.

Then, with 1:33 left in regulation, Aliaksei Protas found a wide open chicron, who fired in for the game-winner. The 27-year-old now leads all NHL defensemen with 23 tallies and seven game-winning goals this season.

Additionally, Protas’ assist proved to be the 100th assist of his career. The Russian forward now has 45 points this season.

capitals report card

Team: A-

Despite the slow start, the Capitals got the job done against a red-hot Buffalo team. They also kept their playoff hopes alive with an extra two points.

Charlie Lindgren: A

Lindgren was notable between the pipes as he stopped 29 of 30 shots. The 32-year-old made several key saves to hold off the Sabres.

Jacob Chykrun:A

Chicrun came up in the clutch with the game-winning goal at the end of regulation. The blueliner now has 23 goals on the season.

Ryan Leonard: A

Leonard continued his hot streak and equalized in the second period. The 21-year-old player registered his 14th goal this year.

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Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

#Caps #upset #redhot #Sabers #Buffalo

Blues, Sabers working on blockbuster trade for Robert Thomas

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Blues, Sabers working on blockbuster trade for Robert Thomas

The St. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabers are working on a trade that will shock the entire NHL. As TSN’s Darren Dreger reports, trade talks between the Blues and Sabers involving Robert Thomas are “heating up.” St.Louis is serious about trading Thomas after weeks of speculation.

As The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reports, Buffalo has been viewed as a “dark horse team” for the Blues center in the NHL. Other teams have also been linked to Thomas, such as the Utah Mammoth and Boston Bruins. Right now, the Sabers may be close to a deal for one of the best NHL players on the block.

The 26-year-old center will ignite Buffalo’s offense, giving the team a better chance to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. After years of selling off elite players, Buffalo may be on the opposite side of a transaction. After all, Thomas has been an 80-point player in the past two seasons, and he has scored at least 21 goals in this period.

St. Louis will likely get a massive move for Thomas, possibly including multiple first-round picks and prospects. The St. Louis center moving to Buffalo would likely open the door to NHL trades, with Eastern Conference teams struggling to respond. However, there is nothing pending at this time.

Thomas has 12 goals and 35 points in 43 games this season as the Blues look to sell before the NHL trade deadline. The St. Louis center is likely to be traded in the next few days, and the Sabers are heavily in the mix. If Buffalo can get this deal across the finish line, it could be the catalyst to end the 14-year-old playoff draft.

Read more: St. Louis Blues could trade Robert Thomas, 5 best landing spots

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Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

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Devils Game 58, NHL’s Back; How to View Lines, Notes, and Versus Sabers

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Devils Game 58, NHL’s Back; How to View Lines, Notes, and Versus Sabers

The NHL is back, and so are the New Jersey Devils. The first night of game action following the Olympic break consisted of eight games. The Devils host the Buffalo Sabres, who face 25 playoff games.

Why like playoffs at this point?

Well, they are on the verge of losing their season with a 2.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. The Devils are 11 points out of a playoff position with little runway to make up any ground.

Jack Hughes—who was in Washington DC yesterday with Team USA, having been invited by the President of the United States to the State of the Union address—remains questionable in terms of his availability. However, barring an unknown injury, it would be surprising to see him sit out.

Washington is only a few hours away by car.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup.

What to know vs Sabers

—The Devils defeated Buffalo in a 5–0 shutout win on November 28 in Buffalo, but lost 3–1 on home ice about a month later.

– Jake Allen recorded 42 saves in the 5-0 shutout, a season-high for the veteran netminder.

2025-26 vs sabers

11/28/25 W 5-0 Key Bank Center

12/21/25 L 3-1 Prudential Center

2/25/26 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs sabers

All-time record: 75-51-13-9

All-time home record: 40-25-6-3

All-time road record: 35-26-7-6

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Lenny Haminaho

Paul Couture – Nick Bjugstad – Maxim Tsyplyakov

defenseman

Brett Pesce – Jonathan Kovacevic

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goaltender

jacob markstrom

jake allen

*Lineup is subject to change

Current injuries: Jack McEwen (upper body, out for the season), Luke Hughes (separated shoulder).

2025-26 Total man-games lost: 255

Projected Sabers Lineup*

Ahead

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Noah Ostlund – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Josh Dun – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malensteen

defenseman

Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Zach Metsa – Michael Kesselring

goaltender

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Alex Lyon

How to watch the Devils game – 7:00 pm ET

See: MSGSN

Radio: Devils Hockey Net

next up

Thu, Feb 26 at 7:00pm PIT
Saturday, February 28, 5:00pm STL
Tuesday, March 3 vs FLA 7:00 PM

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

#Devils #Game #NHLs #View #Lines #Notes #Sabers

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