Canadiens beat Sabres in Game 5, can clinch series at home

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 in Game 5 on Thursday at KeyBank Center, moving within one win of the Eastern Conference final. Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists, Ivan Demidov scored his first playoff goal, and Juraj Slafkovsky added three assists for Montreal. The win gave the Canadiens a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series after Buffalo had evened it with a Game 4 victory two nights earlier. Game 6 is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Bell Centre in Montreal, where the Canadiens can close out the series. ### How did Montreal take control after Buffalo’s fast start? Buffalo scored three times in the first 10:15 of the opening period and led 3-2 after goals from Jason Zucker, Josh Doan and Konsta Helenius. Cole Caufield and Alexandre Texier scored for Montreal in the same stretch, keeping the Canadiens within one despite Buffalo’s early push. (nhl.com) The Canadiens took over in the second period with three unanswered goals. Josh Anderson tied the game 3-3 at 8:01, Jake Evans put Montreal ahead 4-3 at 16:15, and Suzuki scored on the power play at 17:33. Demidov added a power-play goal 3:32 into the third period for the 6-3 final. ### Which players were at the center of Game 5? (nhl.com) Suzuki finished with three points and was listed by NHL.com as the game’s first star. Slafkovsky had three assists, and Demidov had a goal and an assist as Montreal got production from its top line and its power play. Jakub Dobes faced 36 shots and helped steady Montreal after Buffalo’s early scoring burst. (nhl.com) NHL.com said the Canadiens were “on the verge of advancing” after the road win, while Buffalo Toronto Public Media reported Montreal “did a great job of not letting the Sabres build momentum” after the opening period. ### What changed after Buffalo went ahead 3-2? The scoreline shifted after the first period even though Buffalo had generated the stronger opening push. Montreal held the Sabres scoreless in the second and third periods and finished with four unanswered goals after Helenius made it 3-2. Special teams also mattered late. (nhl.com) Suzuki’s goal in the second period and Demidov’s goal in the third both came on the power play, turning a one-goal game into a three-goal Montreal lead. ### Where does the series stand now? Montreal now leads the series 3-2 after five games. NHL.com’s series page lists the Canadiens one win from the Eastern Conference final, with Buffalo facing elimination for the first time in the matchup. (nhl.com) The path to this point has swung back and forth. Hockey-Reference’s series log shows Buffalo won Game 1, Montreal answered in Games 2 and 3, and the Sabres forced the series level again with a Game 4 win before Thursday’s result. (nhl.com) ### What happens Saturday in Montreal? (nhl.com) Game 6 is set for Saturday, May 16, in Montreal. NHL.com’s game center lists Buffalo at Montreal for the next game of the series, and the league’s second-round schedule says the Canadiens will host with a chance to advance. Bell Centre’s event listing shows an 8 p.m. start for Saturday’s game. (hockey-reference.com) If Buffalo wins, Game 7 is scheduled for Monday, May 18, back at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. (evenko.ca) (nhl.com)