Kirby Dach’s third-period goal stretched Montreal’s lead to 5-2.
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens had built a reputation in these playoffs for bouncing back after each loss, highlighted by a road split in Buffalo. Yet they had also lost every game that followed a win — until now.
On Sunday, the Canadiens broke that pattern with a commanding 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Bell Centre, seizing a 2-1 lead in the second-round series. Power-play goals from Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský in the second period propelled the win.
Since Game 1 of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal had alternated wins and losses. While playoff momentum is often fleeting, the Canadiens appear to have a solid grip on it heading into Game 4 on Tuesday.
“We held the momentum for long stretches, and when we lost it — and you will lose it against a team like Buffalo — we didn’t hurt ourselves too much,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “Jakub Dobeš made key saves, we defended well, and we did the unglamorous work: blocking shots, boxing out. We defended when needed, played with pace, created plenty of offensive chances, and spent a lot of time in their zone.”
Alex Newhook scored his team-leading fourth and fifth goals of the playoffs. Zack Bolduc and Kirby Dach also found the net for Montreal, while rookie goaltender Dobeš stopped 26 shots, including several highlight-reel saves in the third period as the Sabres pressed for a tie. Dach’s goal with just over 10 minutes remaining in the third put the game out of reach.
For the second straight contest, the Sabres found themselves on their heels by the second period. From the start of Game 2 through the end of the second period of Game 3, the Canadiens outscored Buffalo 9-3.
Before the game, Sabres players expressed confidence in their ability to respond to a loss, as they had done throughout the regular season and in Round 1. They also posted a perfect 3-0 road record in the first round against Boston. But now Buffalo has not only lost its first road game of these playoffs but also trails in a series for the first time.
“I said before this started: They beat a hell of a team; they are a hell of a team,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “Don’t take them for granted. If we don’t realize it now, we’re never going to realize it.”
**Caufield regains his form**
On Saturday morning in Buffalo, St. Louis was asked if he saw encouraging signs in Caufield, the team’s 51-goal scorer, who had six shot attempts in Game 2 — his second-highest total of the playoffs.
“These first two games, I feel for me, Cole has looked more like Cole,” St. Louis said. “I feel like he’s trying to do all these things and still competing defensively and staying inside our structure defensively. He’s very engaged. He cares about the team. We know that Cole’s going to score goals.”
That prediction seemed unlikely early in Game 3. Caufield whiffed on a routine clearing attempt in the opening minute, leading directly to Tage Thompson’s goal that gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead.
Early in the second period, defenseman Lane Hutson set up Caufield at the crease with a wide-open net, but the puck rolled just wide. The weight on Caufield’s shoulders appeared to grow heavier.
But later in the second, Hutson again found Caufield with an open net — and this time, he did not miss.
