Suzuki worst – Nick Suzuki labeled the Canadiens’ 8-3 Game 6 collapse against the Sabres “probably the worst game we’ve played,” a night that turned a 3-1 lead into seven straight Buffalo goals and forced a decisive Game 7 at Bell Centre.
The Montreal Canadiens started Game 6 with confidence. but the night flipped fast. and by the time the scoreboard settled on an 8-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Bell Centre. the series was suddenly out of reach.. Montreal had been one win away from closing out the second round. only to surrender seven straight goals and watch the matchup pushed to a deciding Game 7.
“It’s probably the worst game we’ve played,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said after the defeat.. “We’re only going up.. I think it’s going to be important for guys to look themselves in the mirror and say we’ve got an opportunity to win one game and move on to the third round.. We’d take that any time throughout the season.”
Montreal opened the game with a burst of early offense, scoring three times on its first three shots.. Arber Xhekaj got things going. Ivan Demidov added a power-play goal. and Jake Evans found the net short-handed to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead.. The advantage forced Buffalo to make a goaltending change when Sabres starting goalie Alex Lyon was pulled after stopping only one of four shots.
From there, Buffalo seized control.. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen came on in relief and stopped all 17 shots he faced.. Montreal was outshot 36-22, and Buffalo held 68.19% of expected goals at five-on-five.. The special teams battle also swung decisively: the Sabres went 4-for-6 on the power play. improving to 9-for-24 in the series.
Rasmus Dahlin powered the offensive surge. finishing with five points—one goal and four assists—and tying the franchise playoff single-game scoring record previously matched by Derek Roy in 2006 and John Tucker in 1988.. Jack Quinn added a two-goal, three-point performance that included his first career playoff goals.. Tage Thompson contributed four points with a goal and three assists. while Jason Zucker and Zach Benson each recorded a goal and an assist.. Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also got on the scoresheet as the Sabres piled up eight total goals.
The eight-goal output was a playoff high for Buffalo and set a franchise road playoff record. Montreal had not previously lost a home game in which it held a potential series-clinching lead by multiple goals, making the collapse feel even sharper for the Canadiens.
Even after the ugly turn, Montreal heads into Monday’s Game 7 in Buffalo with a strong recent Game 7 track record. The Canadiens are 8-2 in their last 10 Game 7 appearances since 1992, and they are 5-0 this postseason following a loss.
By the end. the storyline is hard to miss: Montreal jumped to a 3-1 lead thanks to goals by Arber Xhekaj. Ivan Demidov on the power play. and Jake Evans short-handed. but after Alex Lyon was pulled after stopping only one of four shots. Buffalo went on to control the rest of the game—holding Montreal to 17 shots against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. taking over with a 4-for-6 power-play night. and producing seven consecutive goals to turn the series on its head.
Montreal Canadiens Nick Suzuki Buffalo Sabres Game 6 Game 7 Bell Centre Rasmus Dahlin Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Ivan Demidov Arber Xhekaj Jake Evans Alex Lyon