The Montreal Canadiens have made it to Round 2, and they begin their next best-of-seven series on Wednesday night against the Sabres at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.
Puck drop at 7 p.m. (CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM).
Here are the keys to tonight’s game:
The Habs and Sabres split their season series. Montreal won once in October, pre-Sabres turning their season around in spectacular fashion. The Sabres, by that point the hottest team in the league, won the next two, followed by the Habs winning their final regular-season meeting on Jan. 31.
The biggest challenge for the Habs, literally, will be Buffalo’s defence. Five of their six regular blue-liners are 6-foot-3 or taller.
The Canadiens will look for more offence from their three NHL award nominees: Cole Caufield is up for the Lady Byng Trophy, Ivan Demidov is a Calder Trophy candidate, and today Nick Suzuki earned his first Selke Trophy nomination.
After sitting for the returning Noah Dobson in Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, will Arber Xhekaj return to the lineup for Game 1 against Buffalo? It’s looking like it.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes stood on his head against the Lightning, and he’ll likely be called upon to do it again against the Sabres.
Stay tuned to this page for updates and game highlights throughout the evening. You can also keep the conversation going over on our livestream on the Hockey Inside Out YouTube channel.
First Period: Early offence
The two-goal lead didn’t last. Before the end of the first, Nick Suzuki scored on the power play to cut Buffalo’s lead. 2-1 Sabres
The Habs never trailed by more than a goal against the Lightning in Round 1. In Round 2, they were down two in the first period of the first game. Ryan McLeod scored on the power play. 2-0 Sabres
After Lane Hutson hit a post, at the other end he wiped out, leading to an three-on-one for the Sabres. Josh Doan finished for the early lead. 1-0 Sabres