Martin St. Louis said the Canadiens didn’t have enough calm or poise after the Sabres turned momentum in the middle of Game 6, taking control with three goals in the second period and three more in the third. Montreal’s chance to reach the East Final for the f
The Canadiens came into Game 6 with a real shot at eliminating the Buffalo Sabres and reaching the East Final for the first time since 2014.. Instead, they ran out of answers as Rasmus Dahlin helped power a motivated Buffalo side, leaving Martin St.. Louis with one job now: guide Montreal through a decisive Game 7.
Montreal started strongly, with early execution that produced three goals in the opening frame.. But the pace quickly showed signs of slipping away.. The Canadiens managed just five shots on goal in the first period. and once Buffalo changed goalies. Montreal struggled to create anything in response against a team that sensed the moment.
“It wasn’t a good game for us,” St.. Louis said Saturday night via Rocket Media reporter Chris Galanopoulos.. “You have to give credit to the other side, they played a very good game.. We didn’t have much calm or poise.. It’s tough, you have to live through these moments to learn.. These are stressful moments for players who want the result.. It’s loud, there’s a lot of chaos, and tonight we didn’t see things clearly through that chaos.. We are better than that.”
Montreal had been able to enjoy fantastic second periods in the series, but Game 6 flipped that script. Buffalo scored three goals in the second period to take a 5-3 lead into the dressing room. The Sabres didn’t stop there, adding another three goals in the third period to close the game out.
Montreal and Buffalo now set their sights on a winner-take-all Game 7. The teams will play Monday night at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
The sequence in Game 6 is stark: Montreal produced three goals in the first period while registering just five shots on goal. then Buffalo’s goalie change coincided with Montreal’s inability to counter. before the Sabres used a three-goal second period to build a two-goal cushion and followed with three more in the third to finish the job.
Montreal Canadiens Buffalo Sabres Martin St. Louis Rasmus Dahlin Game 6 Game 7 NHL playoffs