The Buffalo Sabres have been rewriting the history books this season—and they're not done yet. After snapping a 16-year playoff drought and winning their first division title since 2010, the Sabres are now eyeing their first Eastern Conference Final appearance in 19 years. Standing in their way? The Montreal Canadiens, a team that just survived a seven-game thriller against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It wasn't always smooth sailing for Buffalo. The Sabres stumbled out of the gate, losing 12 of their first 17 games (5-8-4) and sitting at 11-14-4 before everything clicked. A 10-game winning streak starting Dec. 9 turned their season around, propelling them to the top of the Atlantic Division with 109 points—their best mark since 2006-07. Now, they're carrying that momentum into a second-round series that begins Wednesday at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres' first-round victory over the Boston Bruins was a testament to their resilience. After splitting the first two games, head coach Lindy Ruff made a pivotal switch in net, replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with Alex Lyon. The move paid off in a big way: Lyon allowed just one goal in each of the next three wins, with only a tight overtime loss in Game 5 breaking the streak. Buffalo took the series in six games, securing their first playoff series win since 2007.
Alex Tuch was the offensive catalyst, leading the team with four goals—including two game-winners—and tying Tage Thompson for the team lead in points with seven. Peyton Krebs chipped in with two goals and four assists, while defenseman Bowen Byram added three goals and two assists from the blue line. The Sabres' depth has been a key factor, and they'll need it against a gritty Montreal squad.
The Canadiens earned their spot in this matchup the hard way. Their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning was a nail-biter from start to finish, with every game decided by a single goal—four of them going to overtime. After losing Game 6 at home 1-0 in OT, Montreal bounced back with a 2-1 victory in Game 7 on the road, despite managing just nine shots on goal. Alex Newhook's third-period goal with 8:53 remaining broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Canadiens through.
Captain Nick Suzuki and defenseman Lane Hutson led Montreal with six points each in the series, while Juraj Slafkovsky made an early statement with three power-play goals in Game 1 alone. The Canadiens have shown they can win in any fashion—tight-checking, low-scoring affairs or offensive shootouts—making them a dangerous opponent.
For the Sabres, this series is about more than just advancing. It's about ending another drought and proving that their resurgence is no fluke. With the energy of a home crowd behind them and a goalie playing at the top of his game, Buffalo has the tools to keep this historic run alive. But Montreal's resilience and ability to win close games make this a matchup that could go either way. Buckle up—this one's going to be a battle.