The Buffalo Sabres are on the brink of elimination from their second-round Eastern Conference playoff series against Montreal after a 6-3 loss in Game 5 that left Buffalo trailing the series 3-2, the report says. The defeat has renewed concerns about the Sabres’ goaltending as well as the team’s defensive play.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen started and helped Buffalo to a 3-2 lead after the first period, per the report. Montreal rookie Jakub Dobes allowed three goals on Buffalo’s first five shots, with Jason Zucker, Josh Doan and Konsta Helenius — Helenius notching his first of the postseason — accounting for Buffalo’s early markers. Luukkonen allowed two goals in the opening 20 minutes, on shots by Cole Caufield and Alexandre Texier, while Montreal outshot Buffalo 11-9 in the period.
Dobes steadied himself in the second, and Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said a key save on a Grade-A chance by Tage Thompson “changed the game.” Montreal then scored three unanswered goals in a 9:32 span — by Josh Anderson, Jake Evans and Nick Suzuki on the power play — to take a 5-3 lead into the third. Rasmus Dahlin said Montreal “rolled over us pretty heavy in the second,” and cited the Canadiens’ speed and puck control as factors that disrupted Buffalo’s rhythm.
Buffalo was outshot 12-7 in the second period, and Luukkonen’s play failed to compensate for defensive breakdowns, per the report. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff replaced Luukkonen with Alex Lyon to start the third, saying there was little Luukkonen could have done on the first two goals and noting one shot he “would want back.” Ruff added that the team has avoided making the season about its goaltenders and would not change that approach now.
Lyon had previously taken over for Luukkonen in these playoffs during Game 2 of Buffalo’s first-round series against Boston, when Luukkonen had given up four goals on 20 shots, and Lyon earned the win that night, the report says. The Sabres acknowledged that goaltending and team defense must improve if they hope to force a return trip to Buffalo for an eventual Game 7.
