The Montreal Canadiens have found their spark. Alex Newhook delivered another clutch performance, scoring twice to lead Montreal to a commanding 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, tying the second-round playoff series at one game apiece.
Newhook has become the Canadiens' secret weapon when it matters most. Just days after netting the series-clinching goal against Tampa Bay in the first round, he was back at it again, providing the secondary scoring Montreal desperately needed. Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, and Nick Suzuki (with an empty-netter) also found the back of the net for the Canadiens.
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes stood tall between the pipes, turning aside 27 shots to keep Buffalo at bay. The win continues a curious trend for Montreal, who have alternated wins and losses throughout the playoffs—a pattern that served them well in a grueling seven-game first-round series against the Lightning.
While Newhook is heating up, Montreal's top offensive stars are still searching for their groove. Cole Caufield extended his goal drought to five games, and Juraj Slafkovsky has managed just one assist in his last eight outings. If the Canadiens' big guns can find their rhythm, this series could shift quickly.
For Buffalo, Zach Benson provided the lone bright spot on the scoresheet. Goaltender Alex Lyon struggled, allowing four goals on 27 shots. He had been solid since replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen during the first round, but Friday night was a step back.
The series now shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Sunday night. It will be the Canadiens' first home game since traveling to Tampa Bay last weekend. After staying in Florida for two days before heading to Buffalo, the team should be eager to feed off the energy of their home crowd.
The Sabres, meanwhile, have been a different team on the road this postseason. While they dropped to 2-3 at home, they won all three games in Boston—including the series clincher in Game 6. Buffalo will need to rediscover that road magic if they want to reclaim home-ice advantage.
Montreal came out firing after falling behind 2-0 in the first period of Game 1. This time, they flipped the script. A costly turnover by Peyton Krebs in Buffalo's zone led to Newhook's first goal just 1:36 into the game, as he slid a shot under Lyon's blocker. Matheson doubled the lead less than three minutes later, floating a shot from the left point over Lyon's right shoulder.
Buffalo's power play, which was lethal in Game 1 (2-for-3), went completely cold, failing to convert on five chances. The Sabres have now managed just three power-play goals in 32 opportunities this postseason—a glaring weakness that Montreal continues to exploit.
Newhook sealed the deal with his second goal, and the Canadiens cruised to a series-tying victory. With the momentum shifting and home ice ahead, Montreal is poised to take control. Game 3 promises to be a pivotal battle.