3 Keys for the Sabres to Defeat the Canadiens in the 2nd Round – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabres

Since the Buffalo Sabres wrapped up their series with a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins, they have been in a holding pattern. This entire season has felt improbably in one way or another, yet the Sabres had time to rest a bit before knowing who their next opponent would be.

With an equally improbable Game 7 win in which they recorded just nine shots, the Montreal Canadiens punched their ticket to the second round. Both teams are young, fast, and exciting but the Sabres will need three things to happen if they are going to advance once again.

1.) Josh Doan/Zach Benson

Part of what makes the Sabres so effective is that they are well-coached. Even in the face of critical injuries, they continued to be better than the Bruins because of the pressure their forecheck caused. Everyone would get in on the act, but one line stood above the rest.

Zach Benson and Josh Doan have been the constants, with the now-injured Noah Ostlund and the returning Josh Norris taking turns at center. The aforementioned duo was a thorn in the side of the Bruins, forcing turnovers, causing less-than-smart decisions, and scoring goals.

Benson, in particular, has become someone to watch. He gets under the skin of the opposition on every shift. He and Doan bring a level of hustle to the table that few others can match. If the Sabres are going to win this series, they will need the duo to be at their peskiest against the Canadiens.

2.) Strong Goaltending

Though the forecheck was crucial, there is a decided turning point one could point to in the Bruins series: Alex Lyon taking over in Game 2. Though he wasn’t necessarily bad, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen just felt like he didn’t have it after most of two games.

Since the switch the Lyon, the Sabres have gotten some of the best goaltending in the playoffs. In four starts, Lyon turned aside 99 of 104 shots. The Sabres won three of those games, the lone blemish an overtime heartbreaker in which goaltender Jeremy Swayman stole the game for the Bruins.

Lyon has been the difference for the Sabres so far. He allows them to play an aggressive forechecking style, to take chances that have earned them “River hockey” status. Lyon has been playing with a confidence that permeates the team, and that will be absolutely necessary in order to advance.

3.) An Uptick from the Power Play

Coming into the playoffs, the Sabres hadn’t scored since Mar. 31. They suffered through a seemingly infinite “0-fer” streak, including striking out on their first 17 opportunities through the first four games of the Bruins series.

Rasmus Dahlin got them off the schneid, but it has been the only marker they’ve had with the man-advantage. They finished the Boston series 1-for-24, and that simply will not fly against a team with as much offensive firepower as the Canadiens have.

The Sabres don’t need to be a top-of-the-league unit by any means, but they do need to be average. The Sabres are fortunate that the lack of a power play didn’t cost them more than it did. If they continue to turn in a futile effort with the advantage, it could come back to bite them against the Canadiens.

It Should Be a Fun Series

The Canadiens outlasted a talented Tampa Bay Lightning team, wrapping up the series on the road. This is a tough, young group but the Sabres should have a few key advantages. With the atmosphere expected to be even crazier for Game 1 than it has been so far, emotions will be high. The Sabres need to come in, play their game, and the rest will take care of itself.