Montreal, B.C. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Tage Thompson set an early tone, but a ferocious Montreal attack made his early goal a distant memory. As the venue shifted to Bell Centre for the first time, the Canadiens defended home ice in a major way. The Habs grabbed their first series lead (2-1) with a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
It took just 53-seconds for the Sabres to hit the scoresheet. Mired in a scoring slump, Tage Thompson potted his first goal since the opening game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Rasmus Dahlin's snapshot deflected off the body of Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier. The puck bounded off the end wall, and around to the other side of the net, where Thompson was waiting to bang it behind goalie Jakub Dobes.
Tage silences the home crowd early
After buzzing for several consecutive shifts, Montreal responded with 4:29 left in the first period. Alex Lyon had been standing on his head, making over a half-dozen dangerous opportunities which made up for some sloppy play by his teammates in their defensive end. Unfortunately, the dam finally broke when forward Alex Newhook's wrist shot deflected behind Lyon off the skate of Conor Timmins.
Montreal grabbed its first lead of the night about six-minutes into the middle stanza. Their lethal powerplay went to work with Josh Doan in the penalty box for a tripping minor. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson went for a skate down the slot, made a move, and dished off to forward Cole Caufield to make it 2-1 Montreal.
Just under five-minutes later, the onslaught continued. Forward Zachary Bolduc got in on the fun, and made it three-straight Canadiens goals with his second goal of the playoffs. The Sabres' early lead was a distant memory as the team desperately needed an answer to stop the bleeding.
The bleeding persisted a minute-and-a-half later. After a goaltender interference call on Beck Malenstyn, the Montreal powerplay scored its second special teams goal of the game. Forward Juraj Slafkovsky was left all alone in front of Lyon and tipped home a goal to make 4-1 Canadiens.
Finally, with just over five-minutes left in the second period, the Sabres found the back of the net for the first time since Thompson's goal less than a minute into the evening. Dahlin's point shot made it through traffic and a Zach Benson screen in front, and pulled Buffalo back within two before period's end.
Dahlin gives the Sabres hope before second intermission
The Sabres dialed up the pressure to start the third, as at one point the blue and goal boasted a 12-2 advantage in scoring chances. They were unable to solve Dobes, however, amidst all the effort. It really felt like it wasn't Buffalo's night when, after all the madness, the Canadiens capitalized on a goofy play.
On a 2-on-1 chance, forward Alexandre Texier's one-timer bounced wildly off the end boards, and ended up going under the legs of Lyon. Forward Kirby Dach, trailing the play, jumped all over the loose puck to make it a 5-2 affair.
The sixth Canadiens goal was awarded by the officials. Dahlin hooked Newhook with an empty-net late, hindering Newhook's opportunity to get a shot off with no goaltender. By rule, a goal was given out.
The Sabres now have a little over day's time to lick their wounds before Game Four on Tuesday night.
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SCORING RECAP:
First Period:
BUF: 0:53 - Tage Thompson (3) (Rasmus Dahlin)
MTL: 15:31 - Alex Newhook (4) (Jake Evans)
Second Period:
BUF: 14:46 - Rasmus Dahlin (2) PPG (Tage Thompson, Josh Doan)
MTL: 6:05 - Cole Caufield (2) PPG (Lane Hutson, Ivan Demidov); 10:43 - Zachary Bolduc (2) (Joe Veleno, Alexandre Carrier); 12:17 - Juraj Slafkovsky (4) PPG (Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
MTL: 8:46 - Kirby Dach (4) (Alexandre Texier, Philip Danault); 15:14 - Alex Newhook (5) AWARD-ENG (Nick Suzuki, Nick Evans)
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Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Lane Hutson - MTL
2.) Alex Newhook - MTL
3.) Jakub Dobes - MTL
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What's Next:
Game Four comes at you on Tuesday night, May 12, still at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is set for just after 7 p.m. ET with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call right here on WGR Sports Radio 550.
Buffalo's early lead was answered by four-straight Habs goals in a 6-2 loss
Buffalo's early lead was answered by four-straight Habs goals in a 6-2 loss
