標籤: strike

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.

Benson got don 🦬🦬🦬 pic.twitter.com/Bq5iCJwkIX

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 6 May 2026

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.

A perfect pass from Juraj Slafkowski set up Nick Suzuki’s second goal of the playoffs.

2-1 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/yR0Hha4Gi1

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 6 May 2026

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.

Jordan Greenway scored early in the second period to give the Sabers a 3–1 lead. pic.twitter.com/aWIbM7YoqD

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 7 May 2026

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.

Very good! What a goal from Kirby Dach! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/S70CqWC9Fn

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 7 May 2026

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.

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

PSV Eindhoven’s decision to sell Ricardo Pepi to Fulham this week was a calculated move and one they had already planned.

According to Rik Elfrink of Eindhoven’s Dagblad, via football newsPSV deliberately approved the deal early as part of a long-standing policy designed to lock in guaranteed income before the window opens.

Elfrink points out that this approach has previously funded signings like Noah Lang and even Pepi himself following the lucrative exits of Cody Gakpo and Noni Maduke.

Four reasons why PSV now accepted Fulham’s offer

Elfrink gave four clear reasons why PSV was willing to do an immediate deal with Fulham:

1. PSV needed quick money to build their team

PSV prefer to secure their transfer budget before the window opens, allowing them to move decisively and quickly in the market.

2. The club now has financial certainty

With the Pepys fee locked in, PSV can plan their summer with clarity rather than wait for the World Cup to determine their value.

3. Pepi scored goals but did not fully meet PSV’s build-up demands

Elfrink says that while Pepi is an excellent finisher, PSV believe his off-ball and possession work does not line up perfectly with their long-term tactical model.

4. Pepi himself pressed for this step

The striker wanted to move to London and PSV were willing to honor that preference once Fulham’s valuation was met.

Some analysts believe PSV sold out too early

However, PSV’s decision has sparked debate within the Netherlands. On ESPN, Mario Beane called the move “surprising”. He argues that PSV could have earned more by waiting.

“If he has a good World Cup, the amount could be even higher,” He said.

Meanwhile, Hedviges Maduro questioned Fulham’s spending ability rather than PSV’s decision:

“Forty million for Fulham… and they took all those players from the Netherlands,” He added.

He is also not the first person to do so. Actually, there is increasing concern about this in the Netherlands The ever-widening gap in spending power.

🚨Ricardo Pepi will soon travel to London to undergo a medical and sign with Fulham until June 2031.
*️⃣His pass was acquired from PSV for €36M and he will join his new club after the World Cup.
📸With his agent Jaime Garcia from Starting Eleven Player Management. pic.twitter.com/zK3Y2h9Z4y

– Cesar Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) 18 March 2026

What does Ricardo Pepi’s move mean for Fulham?

Despite the debate, Fulham have their striker. Reports today say he has flown to London for a medical before sealing his exit from PSV.

He will be looking to replicate that form at Craven Cottage after scoring 39 goals in 95 games for the Dutch side so far. Fulham are also in need of a striker, with Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez not being regular goalscorers this season. Harry Wilson is their current top eight goalscorer.

Marco Silva’s side need a reliable striker, and it seems he thinks Pepi is that man. It appears they’re happy to have him early and, at least according to Elfrink, it’s a deal that works for everyone.

🇮🇹 Pervis Estupinan | West Ham and Fulham fullbacks ready to defend ➡️ Return to PL, perfect fit for Hammershttps://t.co/dONQJEY4Gh #whufc #ffc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 10 March 2026

The latest updates on the ongoing negotiations between the WNBA and its players point to a strike starting very soon.

NBA All-Star weekend is in the rearview, and there was one notable omission from this year’s event: the inclusion of WNBA stars. Typically, all women’s leagues owned by the NBA have a presence on All-Star weekend. But that didn’t happen this month as the WNBA is in the middle of negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. An agreement that appears no closer to completion.

Even during the 2025 WNBA season, there were strong rumors that a strike or lockout was very possible. With interest in the league reaching new heights over the past two seasons, players want increased wages and feel they deserve it. However, league owners want to be cautious about the recent surge and do not want to overextend their financial capabilities if the recent growth cannot sustain itself.

Talks have been going on for several months, but little progress has been made and it could soon pass the point where the season could be delayed. According to a recent report from Front Office Sports, “If a deal is not reached within the first two weeks of February, the season will be delayed.”

More evidence emerges that WNBA strike is coming

The new season is scheduled to begin on May 8, and the league still has the expansion draft, free agency and the 2026 WNBA Draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire on the offseason to-do list before the new season begins.

Adding to the idea that a players’ strike is imminent is the fact that it was actually rumored to be announced this weekend. FOS reported, “There was a rumor throughout the weekend that there would be a demonstration by WNBA players in Los Angeles to press for a better deal or declare a strike. But the weekend ended without any such event.”

There could be no better evidence that players are under the impression that a strike is going to happen than two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart agreeing to a deal with Turkish club Fenerbahçe. The impending free agent will begin playing in Türkiye a few weeks before the upcoming WNBA season begins. If she thought a CBA agreement was not far off, it would be highly unlikely that she would sign such an agreement.

The league’s most recent offer is reportedly still less than 15% of total league revenue and includes a salary cap hit of $5.65 million.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos