Buffalo Sabres Next Playoff Hurdle: The Last Canadian Team

The Sabres broke their power-play scoring drought by Game Five.

Buffalo have been a Swiss army knife when it comes to talent. They’re not afraid to go into their opponents’ zone and mess up plays.

The team is also patient when it comes to scoring. They will attack, but if it doesn’t break through, they keep trying, set up, and attack again.

The Sabres are considered the third-youngest team in the league with quite the veteran mentality.

The Last Canadian Team In The Playoffs

The Montreal Canadiens finished off the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Seven, pushing through to the end. They were also ranked as the youngest team in the league.

Montreal is the last Canadian team in the league in the playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks kicked out the Edmonton Oilers, and the Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators.

All players on the team have contributed on the ice in a unique but distinct way. Their goalie, Jakub Dobeš, contributed to their breakaways and even scoring opportunities.

In addition, the Canadiens rush and score. It doesn’t always have a trigger; it just happens at times. They can also get into the corners near the net and score. What has made them dangerous is that there’s no set spot they consistently aim for when scoring. If the opposing team doesn’t clear the puck right away, Montreal will score, even if the goalie can keep up with them.

The Canadiens also turned up the heat with quick passes, creating scoring opportunities.

Sabres On The Look Out

Both teams have players that the other should be watchful of. For starters, the Sabres need to be aware of Dobeš. He played in all seven games of the first round against Tampa Bay. The 24-year-old is quick to make saves but can be overreactive. He, however, can be a wall, and the Lightning were stuffed many times because of him.

Zachary Bolduc is a player who has slid under the radar with the Canadiens. The right winger scored once in Round One. Bolduc has skills, however, that make him worthy enough to play with their veterans. What makes him underrated is that his NHL career is so new tell if his skills will be consistent.

Additionally, Buffalo needs to be mindful of Lane Hutson. The defensemen scored twice in the first round. Hutson is 5’6 but has a high hockey IQ and can weave around opponents.

Sabres On The Warpath

The Canadiens should be equally watchful of the Sabres and who’s on their roster. Much like Dobeš, Alex Lyon is a driving force. He has a .955 save percentage in the Sabres’ playoff appearance.

In addition, Zach Benson is a player who has started to make a name for himself. He scored twice in Round One against the Bruins. Benson is always on the puck. He has also developed the mentality of not letting anything really bother him, which really gets under his opponent’s skin.

Peyton Krebs is also a player Montreal should pay attention to. He scored twice and had four assists in Round One. Krebs had a breakthrough this season and climbed up from the different lines. This ultimately led him to become a reliable asset to the first line this season with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. Krebs also provides physicality as an instigator and is known for defending his teammates.

Healthy Scratches

The Canadiens have their fair share of healthy scratches with five total. Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher are two of the five who alternated depending on the night in Round 1.

Montreal, much like Buffalo, has a third goalie, Sam Montembeault. Four years older than Sabres’ Colten Ellis, it will be intriguing to see if both teams will take advantage of all three of their goalies in Round 2.

While the Canadiens have five healthy scratches, the Sabres have eight. Buffalo has been alternating between Josh Dunne and Tyson Kozak, with Kozak finishing off Round 1.

The Sabres also had Josh Norris and Noah Östlund alternating. Norris, however, became more prominent at the end of Round One, seeing as Östlund was injured in Game Five.

What Round 2 Will Look Like

The Canadiens are the youngest team in the league and clearly have talent if they’re in the playoffs. Even though they’re young, that doesn’t mean they’ll be unpredictable for the Sabres.

Buffalo is where Montreal hopes to be in terms of what a team looks like. The Sabres finally merged the young team they once were with a veteran mentality.

On top of that, the goalies will really put on a show for Round Two. Both Dobeš and Lyon are sharp goalies who have made their playoff debuts.

Dobeš is new to both the NHL and the playoffs. Even though this is Lyon’s debut, he has been around the NHL and AHL for much longer. By doing so, he acquired a veteran mentality, which he has been using to his advantage. The Sabres are collected and adaptive to the toughness that comes with the territory, but having Lyon to fall back on really helps.

The Canadiens and the Sabres have a lot of great players, so Benson will have someone to bicker with.

Focusing on the game itself, it will depend on what happens when the puck drops. Buffalo, however, tends to finish off their opponent in the third period. On the other hand, when the Sabres are on a scoring streak, they continue that momentum regardless of the period.

In Round One, Montreal scored at least one goal per period in most of the games. If they continue that momentum, Buffalo can counteract with defense and breakaways.

Both teams are fast. The Sabres’ speed was the reason why they exhausted the Bruins. There will be quick shifts as seen at the end of Round One.

The Canadiens and the Sabres need to be aware of what the other is capable of. Buffalo has been good at playing their hockey and getting physical when needed. The Sabres also have camaraderie, which has been very clear on and off the ice. It will really come in handy as Buffalo goes deeper into the trenches of the playoffs.

End Of Buffalo Sabres Rant

The fierceness of the game itself stretches over to the fanbases. With that said, it will be interesting to observe if there will be a sea of red in the KeyBank Center, or if the Sabres fans defend their barn. It will be an action-packed round, and both teams will be tested.