The Montreal Canadiens still haven't found their top-line groove, but on Friday night, they proved that depth wins playoff hockey. In a statement 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, the Habs silenced their critics and evened the Eastern Conference semifinals at one game apiece, setting the stage for two crucial home games in Montreal.

While captain Nick Suzuki finally got on the scoresheet with a late empty-netter, the real story was the unsung heroes who carried the load. Alex Newhook, fresh off his Game 7 heroics against Tampa Bay, delivered his first career multi-goal playoff performance. His first goal opened the scoring, and his second made it 3-0 early in the second period—a spark that energized the entire bench.

Defenseman Mike Matheson joined the party with a dazzling shot that threaded through multiple defenders and over Alex Lyon's right shoulder for his first postseason goal. The Sabres managed to pull one back late in the second via Zach Benson, but Montreal answered emphatically early in the third. Alexandre Carrier forced a turnover from Tage Thompson, then went in alone on Lyon and buried it to make it 4-1. That goal effectively broke Buffalo's spirit.

In Game 1, the Canadiens relied on their top guns for power-play production but struggled at even strength. This time, it was the second wave—Newhook, Matheson, and Carrier—that stepped up when it mattered most. The Habs know they'll need more from Suzuki, Cole Caufield (who clanged the crossbar on a dangerous shot), and Juraj Slafkovsky to make a deep run. But on this night, they proved that great teams find a way to win, even when their stars aren't shining brightest.

The series now shifts to Montreal, and if this game was any indication, the Canadiens have the depth and resilience to keep their playoff dreams alive.