Sabres force decisive Game 7 in Buffalo tonight

The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens will play a decisive Game 7 on Monday, May 18, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with a berth in the Eastern Conference final on the line. NHL.com’s second-round schedule lists puck drop for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the winner will advance to face the Carolina Hurricanes. Buffalo forced the deciding game with an 8-3 win over Montreal in Game 6 at Bell Centre on Saturday, May 16. Rasmus Dahlin had five points, Tage Thompson had four, and the Sabres scored seven straight goals after falling behind early, according to NHL.com’s game recap. The series returns to Buffalo tied 3-3 after Montreal had a chance to close it out at home. (nhl.com) The Sabres’ team site described Monday’s game as “winner takes all,” while NHL.com said the matchup will decide which club reaches the conference final. ### How did Buffalo get this back to one game? Game 6 turned after Montreal built an early lead and Buffalo changed goaltenders. (nhl.com) NHL.com said the Sabres rallied for seven unanswered goals, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopping 18 of 19 shots in relief after Alex Lyon was pulled 4:49 into the first period. (nhl.com) Dahlin’s five-point night was the standout individual performance in Buffalo’s season-saving win. Thompson added four points, and Jack Quinn scored twice as the Sabres produced their highest-scoring game of the series. ### What exactly is at stake Monday night? Monday’s game will decide the Eastern Conference second-round series between Buffalo and Montreal. (nhl.com) NHL.com’s Game 7 preview said the winner moves on to play the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. The setting is also unusual for Buffalo. (nhl.com) NHL.com’s look-ahead to Game 7 said the Sabres are 1-6 in Game 7 situations, while Montreal entered with a 16-9 record in such games, including a win in the previous round. ### What are the key facts fans need before puck drop? KeyBank Center in Buffalo is the site for Game 7, and the NHL schedule lists national U.S. coverage on ESPN. (nhl.com) NHL.com’s preview also listed Canadian coverage on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports. The series itself has swung sharply. Buffalo entered Game 6 facing elimination in Montreal, then sent the matchup back home with the 8-3 result on May 16. (nhl.com) ### Which players are driving this matchup into Game 7? Rasmus Dahlin enters Game 7 coming off the five-point performance that kept Buffalo alive. (nhl.com) NHL.com’s playoff series page highlighted Dahlin’s Game 6 outburst among the lead storylines heading into Monday. Tage Thompson also figures prominently after his four-point game in Montreal. (nhl.com) On the Canadiens side, captain Nick Suzuki was cited by NHL.com after Game 6 as part of a Montreal group left trying to respond after the lopsided loss. ### Where does the winner go from here? The Carolina Hurricanes are already waiting in the Eastern Conference final, according to NHL.com’s playoff coverage. (nhl.com) That makes Monday night the last second-round game in the East. Monday, May 18, is the next and only date that matters in this series: Buffalo hosts Montreal at 7:30 p.m. (nhl.com) ET at KeyBank Center, and the winner advances to face Carolina. (nhl.com) (sports.yahoo.com)