The Buffalo Sabres are making their first playoff appearance since 2011 and are looking to advance past the second round for the first time since 2007. They face off against the Montreal Canadiens, a team with which they split their season series 2-2, both teams scoring a total of 13 goals.
As of May 5, Sam Carrick could practice again after recovering from a left arm injury, which is good news for the Sabres. Coach Lindy Ruff noted, “(He’s) going to see our doctors today and thinks he’s further along than maybe I portrayed yesterday.” However, Carrick will not be available for this series.
In their first-round matchup against Boston, Buffalo managed to secure one power-play goal. Yet, they face a tough challenge ahead; Montreal scored three power-play goals in their series against Tampa Bay. That context matters because special teams play can significantly influence playoff outcomes.
Currently, Buffalo holds an impressive goals-against average of 2.0 goals per game, while Montreal isn’t far behind at 2.1 goals per game. This slight edge in goaltending could be crucial—if the Sabres continue to get solid goaltending, they should have enough of an advantage elsewhere to handle what could be a memorable series.
The stakes are high for both teams. The last time Buffalo reached the Conference Finals was in 2007, and fans are eager for a return to glory. Rasmus Dahlin expressed his desire for more home support: “I really, really appreciate the fans that came out, but I don’t want to see that many red in the future.”
As they prepare for this pivotal matchup, both teams will rely heavily on their young stars. Players like Tage Thompson and Cole Caufield are expected to make significant impacts. The rivalry between these two Atlantic Division teams has been dormant since the late ’90s—this series could reignite it.
With everything on the line, expect a back-and-forth battle as both teams fight for advancement in the NHL playoffs. The Sabres will need to capitalize on every opportunity while tightening up defensively against Montreal’s skilled forwards like Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský.
