When you drop Game 1 of a playoff series, you need a spark—and the Montreal Canadiens got one in a hurry. Alex Newhook scored just 96 seconds into Game 2, setting the tone for a dominant 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres that evened the Eastern Conference second-round series at 1-1.

The 25-year-old winger opened the scoring by slipping behind the Sabres' coverage and redirecting a Kaiden Guhle pass past goaltender Alex Lyon. He struck again early in the second period, finishing a feed from Jake Evans just moments after Buffalo failed to convert on the power play. That quick-strike ability gave Montreal exactly what it needed: secondary scoring while the team's stars search for their rhythm.

Cole Caufield is now without a point in five straight games, and Juraj Slafkovsky has managed just one assist in his last eight outings. With those key contributors struggling, Newhook's two-goal night was a welcome relief—but it also sparked an unexpected debate away from the scoresheet.

Former NHL forward T.J. Oshie took to social media to criticize Newhook's solo celebration after his first goal. "Love Newhook going to the hard areas and getting rewarded. But… I cannot stand these kids scoring goals and then blatantly skating by their teammates to celebrate alone," Oshie wrote. "If you go through 5 guys and score then go ahead and do your thing. Any other scenario give your teammates some love. Especially in playoffs!"

Sportsnet's Justin Bourne echoed that sentiment, calling the solo celebrations "downright weird" and noting it's a growing trend among younger players. The critiques have tapped into a larger conversation about how today's NHL stars are prioritizing their personal moments versus team bonding.

But for Montreal, the bigger story was how complete their game looked after that early lead. The Canadiens were far more organized defensively than in Game 1, cleaning up their neutral-zone coverage and handling Buffalo's speed much better. Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes stopped 28 shots, but the team in front of him made his job easier with disciplined play.

Now, the series shifts to the Bell Centre, where Montreal will look to take control. If Newhook can keep finding the net—and the celebrations stay secondary to the wins—the Canadiens might just be getting started.