The Montreal Canadiens have the Buffalo Sabres exactly where they want them. With a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 on Saturday, the Habs are one win away from punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final—and they'll have the home crowd at the Bell Centre behind them for the 8 pm ET puck drop.
Game 5 was a rollercoaster that showcased everything fans love about playoff hockey. After a wild first period that saw both teams trade four goals, the Canadiens took control in the second frame. Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, and Nick Suzuki scored three unanswered goals, giving Montreal a commanding lead heading into the third period. Rookie sensation Ivan Demidov then slammed the door shut, scoring on the power play just over three minutes into the final period to seal a 6-3 victory.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Habs fans heading into Game 6 is that Montreal's top line finally found its groove. Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Cole Caufield combined for seven points on Thursday—Suzuki added two assists to his goal, Slafkovsky dished out three helpers, and Caufield netted his fourth goal of the playoffs. When that trio is clicking, the Canadiens are a different team.
Ivan Demidov continues to make his mark on this series. With a goal and two points in Game 5, the young forward now has five points (1g, 4a) in the series. From the blue line, Lane Hutson is proving to be a difference-maker as well, recording his second multi-assist game of the series on Thursday to bring his total to six assists in five games against Buffalo.
The Sabres face a tough decision in goal for Game 6. Lindy Ruff gave the net back to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but pulled him after allowing five goals, turning to Alex Lyon. Who gets the start in a must-win game for Buffalo remains to be seen.
As always, head coach Martin St. Louis will keep any lineup changes close to the vest until warmups. The game airs on CBC, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports, with a full recap and highlights available immediately after the final whistle. For Habs fans, Saturday night could be the start of something special.