Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - For many it seemed like forever, but the Buffalo Sabres are set to open Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. Zach Benson is a Western Canada boy, but says going against Montreal is extra juice for him,
“I think for sure, any Canadian kid dreams of playing against the Habs, regular season or playoffs, but I think playoffs just intensifies it that much more and I know this stadium is going to be electric and you know the Bell Center is going to be electric, so it’s going to be a pretty cool series.”
Lindy Ruff said he doesn’t counsel the 20-year-old in how to be an irritant to the other team, but last season there was one part of it that the head coach needed to change. He felt Benson was hurting the team by taking things too far and putting the Sabres shorthanded. Benson said it’s been a focus for him and he has eliminated taking those penalties,
“It’s learning, there’s a lot of things that you have to learn in this league and I think that’s one of them, it’s fine to play on the edge, but you just can’t cross that line and I think I’ve been doing a good job of that this year either drawing a penalty or taking a guy with me at least and just picking your moments and being smart about it.”
When Bo Byram won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, it was his rookie year. Byram elevated his game in that playoff run and he did it again for the Sabres in the series against the Boston Bruins. Ruff is not surprised,
“I believe he did, I think the playoffs is all about elevating your game and the guys that stand out are the ones that reach a level above where they usually are at and I think he has done that.
“I’ve talked to our team that about there’s a regular season level of play and there’s a playoff level, but I think in Bo’s case he’s had some experience, he just welcomes this opportunity to be back in the playoffs, he loves the opportunity and really trying to take advantage of it, so has he elevated his play? I think he has.”
This is the eighth time these two teams have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 1975 the Sabres won in six games, 1983 Buffalo won in a three game sweep and in 1998 the Sabres took a four game sweep. Montreal won in 1973, 1990 and in 1991 in six games. They swept the Sabres in four games in 1993.
During the regular season these two teams went 2-2 against each other and both teams scored 13 goals. Montreal captain Nick Suzuki had eight points in the four games while 51-goal scorer Cole Caufield had four goals.
For Buffalo, Tage Thompson had a hat trick and five points in Buffalo’s 5-3 win in January. In the four games the Sabres 40-goal scorer had three goals and four assists for seven points. Noah Ostlund, who is injured and will not play in the series had one goal and three assists for four points.
The Sabres are 4-2 in this year’s playoffs while Montreal is 4-3. Alex Lyon leads the way in goal going 3-1 with a 1.14 goals against and .955 save percentage. He’s second to Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Freddie Andersen in both categories. Rookie Jakub Dobes leads the way for Montreal. He’s 4-3 with a 2.03 goals against and .923 save percentage.
Thompson and Alex Tuch both have seven points in six games in the playoffs. For Montreal both Suzuki and Lane Hutson has six points in seven games. Caufield has a goal and three assists.
Earlier this week Ryan McLeod mentioned that there were things that needed to be cleaned up by his line getting ready for this series. McLeod is minus-4 while his wingers, Jack Quinn and Jason Zucker are minus-1. They are the only minus players on the team. Tuch and Peyton Krebs are third in the NHL at plus-8.
When asked about Sam Carrick playing Wednesday Ruff said,
“We really haven’t put a date on it, tonight could be a possibility.”
The morning skate was optional.
Join “Schopp and the Bulldog” for the pregame starting at 6:00 when you’ll hear from Ruff, Thompson, Tuch, Benson and Carrick.
Both teams feel this is going to be an even series
Both teams feel this is going to be an even series
