The Montreal Canadiens hope to even the series against the Buffalo Sabres when they take the ice at KeyBank Center on Friday at 7 p.m.
After dropping Game 1, the Canadiens are aiming for a strong road performance before returning home for the next matchup.
Hockey can change quickly, and Montreal felt that in Game 1.
The Canadiens staged late rallies in the first and second periods with goals from Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach, but a difficult stretch in the middle allowed Buffalo to build a 4-1 lead. How the Canadiens respond to these shifts in momentum will be key in Game 2.
Despite the tough middle period, coach Martin St-Louis saw encouraging signs in Montreal’s first and third periods.
The Canadiens scored after falling behind twice and showed resilience in the final frame. They will look to build on these positives while adjusting to Buffalo’s fast-paced style.
Discipline could play a major role in Game 2. Buffalo, who struggled in the first round, scored twice on the power play in Game 1, while Montreal converted once. Both teams will need to tighten up on the penalty kill to limit easy scoring chances.
The teams split their regular-season meetings, each winning twice, including one win apiece in Buffalo. In the playoffs, Buffalo took Game 1 by a 4-2 score. Montreal will be looking to even the series with a strong performance in Game 2.
Nick Suzuki continues to lead the Canadiens, scoring in both Game 7 against Tampa Bay and in Game 1 versus Buffalo. He has seven points in eight playoff games.
On the other side, Sabres forward Zach Benson has been a key contributor with five points in seven games, including two assists in Game 1 against Montreal.
The Canadiens will need consistent effort and strong play from their leaders if they want to leave Buffalo with a crucial road victory in Game 2.
