Montreal‑Buffalo, Ducks‑Knights face pivotal nights

The shape of these two series changed fast. Vegas grabbed the biggest swing of the night on Tuesday, beating Anaheim 3-2 in overtime in Game 5 and moving one win from the Western Conference final. Buffalo did something different but just as important — it stole back control of its series by beating Montreal 3-2 in Game 4 and tying things 2-2. ### Why was Vegas-Anaheim the real pivot? Because Game 5 in a 2-2 series is usually the hinge game, and Vegas got it by the thinnest margin possible. Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice, including the winner 4:10 into overtime, and that turns a coin-flip series into one where Anaheim now has to survive an elimination game instead of pushing for match point. (nhl.com) ### How close was Anaheim to flipping it? Very. Olen Zellweger tied Game 5 with 3:05 left in the third, which felt like the kind of goal that can drain a home crowd and steal a series. But Vegas recovered, got to overtime, and Dorofeyev finished it. That’s the part that stings for Anaheim — the Ducks did the hard comeback work and still left empty-handed. (nhl.com) ### What does Game 6 look like now? It’s Thursday, May 14, in Anaheim. Vegas leads 3-2 and can close the series there. The schedule had this matchup looking like it might need seven games, but Tuesday’s result changed the math and the mood — now the Ducks need one home win just to force a deciding Game 7 on Saturday, May 16. (nhl.com) ### What happened in Montreal-Buffalo? Buffalo stopped the slide at exactly the right time. The Canadiens had won Games 2 and 3, then took a 2-1 lead in Game 4 before the Sabres rallied for a 3-2 win. That matters because Buffalo went from staring at a 3-1 hole to bringing the series home tied. In playoff terms, that’s a full reset. (nhl.com) ### Why does home ice suddenly matter again? Because Buffalo earned it back. Game 5 is in Buffalo on Thursday, May 14, with the series tied 2-2, and that gives the Sabres the cleaner path — win at home, then try to finish in Montreal in Game 6. Montreal still has plenty of life, but the Canadiens no longer have the cushion they built with those back-to-back wins. (nhl.com) ### Which team is under more pressure? Anaheim, easily. The Ducks are down 3-2 and one loss ends the run. Montreal’s spot is tense, but not that tense — Canadiens-Sabres is now basically a best-of-three. Vegas has the chance to be ruthless. Buffalo has the chance to turn a rescue act into real control. ### So what should you watch for next? (nhl.com) Watch whether Vegas can turn that overtime escape into a clean closeout, because teams often either surge after a win like that or relax just enough to regret it. And watch Buffalo’s start at home — if the Sabres grab Game 5, the whole emotional balance of that series swings their way. Basically, one series is at the brink, and the other just got reborn. ### Bottom line Vegas created the most urgent game on the board. Buffalo created the most unpredictable one. Thursday night now has two very different kinds of pressure — one team trying to finish, and two others trying to prove the reset is real. (nhl.com)