On Tuesday night the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres continued their best of seven series at the Bell Centre. With Montreal leading the series two games to one, it was a must win game for Buffalo. The result was a 3-2 loss for the Habs.
Here are my notes from the game.
A smart call from the coach chilled a hot start by the Sabres.
The officials made the call to review a play where Dobes’ glove appeared to cross the goal line with the puck inside. On review, they called it a good goal. That would have given the Sabres a 2-0 lead early in the game.
Marty saw what Bissonnette saw, and challenged the goal on goaltender interference. The goal was called back, and shortly thereafter Newhook tied it up.
Great call by St. Louis to keep the game from getting out of control.
The bounces went Buffalo’s way in this one.
That stanchion goal was terrible luck. That kind of goal to tie a close game is hard to swallow. But that unlucky bounce was not the difference in this one.
The four minute power play to end the second period and start the third should have finished it.
Instead, the Canadiens did not capitalize and managed just two shots in four minutes. The Habs are having a tough time accepting that perimeter play will not get it done. Then they took a bad penalty shortly thereafter, and allowed a goal by Benson. Yes, another situation where Benson was way too comfy in front of the net.
When the opposition gives you seven power plays you have to come away with more than one goal. That’s true every day of the week. But when total control of the series is in your reach and you go one for seven, that’s criminal.
So instead of having three chances to finish it, the Canadiens are in a best two out of three scenario. They’ll need to bring more to Buffalo on Thursday. Go Habs Go!
Hab At Her 