Canadiens beat Sabres 5-1

Montreal didn’t just win Game 2. The Canadiens grabbed the series back. A 5-1 road win over Buffalo on Friday night evened this second-round matchup at 1-1, and the way it happened matters as much as the score. Montreal struck early, got two goals from Alex Newhook, and rode a steady night from Jakub Dobes in net. Buffalo, meanwhile, lost the one thing home ice was supposed to buy — control. ### Why did this game feel so different? Because Montreal took away the script almost immediately. The Canadiens scored twice in the opening 4:27, which changed the whole night from “Buffalo can squeeze this series at home” to “Buffalo is chasing.” In the playoffs, that first swing matters a lot — especially on the road, where an early lead lets a team simplify the game and force the crowd out of it. (nhl.com) ### Who actually drove the win? Newhook was the headline. He scored twice and gave Montreal the kind of finishing punch it needed after dropping Game 1. But this wasn’t one guy dragging a team over the line. The Canadiens got goals from multiple spots in the lineup, which is usually the sign of a team that’s dictating play rather than surviving it. Josh Anderson added the late 5-1 goal, and Montreal’s attack never really let Buffalo settle. (nhl.com) ### How good was Dobes? Really good — and maybe more important than the five goals. Dobes stopped 28 of 29 shots, which meant Buffalo never got the run of momentum it needed after falling behind. A playoff game can turn fast if the trailing team gets one greasy goal and the building wakes up. Dobes basically refused to allow that swing. Montreal gave up 29 shots, so this wasn’t a pure lockdown. (nhl.com) It was a game where the goalie cleaned up the danger and kept the score honest. ### Did Buffalo play badly? Not in the “they forgot how to hockey” sense. Buffalo actually finished with 29 shots to Montreal’s 28. The problem was timing and finish. The Sabres were already behind before they could establish their pace, and once Montreal had the lead, Buffalo’s chances carried more pressure. That’s the catch with playoff hockey — two teams can generate similar volume, but the team scoring first gets to decide what kind of game everyone else has to play. (nhl.com) ### Why is the split such a big deal? Because Buffalo’s job at home was to build a cushion. Instead, the Sabres got one win and then handed home-ice advantage right back. Now the series shifts to Montreal for Games 3 and 4, starting Sunday, May 10. So what looked like Buffalo’s chance to put real pressure on the Canadiens has turned into a shorter series inside a longer one — basically a best-of-five, with Montreal now holding the next two games in its own building. (nhl.com) ### What should you watch next? The first ten minutes of Game 3. If Montreal scores early again, this series could tilt fast. If Buffalo settles in and gets the first lead, then Game 2 starts to look more like a punch absorbed than a trend. The other thing to watch is whether Buffalo can turn its shot volume into cleaner chances, because 29 shots sounds fine until you remember only one got through. (espn.com) ### So where does the series stand now? Right where Montreal wanted it. The Canadiens lost the opener, answered immediately, and left Buffalo with no margin from its home stand. That’s a strong road split in any playoff round. But more than that, it resets the emotional balance of the matchup. Buffalo had the chance to seize control. Montreal made sure this series is starting over. (nhl.com)