The Montreal Canadiens are heading back to the Bell Centre with a 2-1 series lead over the Buffalo Sabres in their second-round NHL playoff matchup. After a dominant 6-2 victory in Game 3, the Habs are looking to take a commanding lead when they host the Sabres for Game 4 on Sunday.
This marks the eighth meeting between these Atlantic Division rivals this season, and the Canadiens have certainly had the upper hand lately. Alexander Newhook was the star of Game 3, lighting the lamp twice to power Montreal’s offense. The Canadiens have been particularly dangerous when they find the back of the net three or more times, boasting an impressive 48-8-9 record in those games.
Montreal enters Sunday’s contest with a solid 48-24-10 overall record and a 22-11-3 mark within the division. The team has been clicking lately, going 6-2-2 in their last 10 games while averaging 2.9 goals per game and allowing just 2.2. Their penalty kill has been busy too, racking up 16.1 penalty minutes per game over that stretch.
Nicholas Suzuki continues to lead the charge for the Canadiens with 29 goals and 72 assists this season. But keep an eye on rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, who has been heating up with two goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.
The Sabres, who finished the regular season at 50-23-9, won’t go down without a fight. They’ve been nearly unstoppable when scoring three or more goals themselves, posting a 49-4-8 record in those games. Tage Thompson has been the engine for Buffalo with 40 goals and 41 assists, while Alex Tuch has been on a tear lately with five goals and three assists in his last 10 outings.
Buffalo has struggled slightly in their last 10 games, going 5-3-2, but they’re still averaging three goals per game. The Sabres will need to tighten up defensively after giving up six goals in Game 3, especially with several key players sidelined. Noah Ostlund is out with a lower-body injury, while Jiri Kulich and Justin Danforth are both out for the season. Sam Carrick is day-to-day with an arm issue.
With a 2-1 series lead and home-ice advantage, the Canadiens have a golden opportunity to seize control. But the Sabres have proven all season they can score in bunches, so expect a fierce battle as both teams look to gain the upper hand in this pivotal Game 4.