BUFFALO, NY – The highly anticipated NHL Eastern Conference playoff series between the Buffalo Sabers and Montreal Canadiens came to KeyBank Center on Wednesday night.
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It’s one of those series that looks like it could go seven games, but has to start with Game 1.
The Sabers are playing their first second-round playoff game in 19 years.
The Canadiens, who have won more Stanley Cups than any team in NHL history, are chasing their first Cup since 1993.
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If one of these teams wants to lift the Stanley Cup, there are still 12 more wins to go from here.
That’s a journey they’re both pursuing and it will lead to some high-intensity hockey in this Eastern Conference semifinal series.
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We’ll be following the action live from our press-level view at the KeyBank Center below, so follow along.
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Sabers vs Canadiens live score
| 1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Score |
|
|
Canadians |
– |
– |
– |
0 |
|
Sabers |
2* |
– |
– |
2 |
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Sabers vs. Canadiens live updates
First Period
– Buffalo remains 2-0 with 3:11 in the first half. Montreal has outshot the Sabres, 7-6.
– Ryan McLeod from a tight angle. 2-0 Sabres, a powerplay goal with 6:34 left in the first period. And guess who else is in attendance? It’s Zach Benson. Josh Doan had the secondary assist.
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– Sabers powerplay with 8:25 left in the first. Nick Suzuki for tripping. It was Bowen Byram who got into a dangerous position to tie the trip.
– Another opportunity around the corner. Ivan Demidov denied Lyon this time. 9:12 to play first.
– Phillip Danault had the best opportunity for Montreal, at point-blank range nine minutes into this one, but Lyon slid well and denied it.
– Montreal is creating more chances than it did in its Game 7 victory over Tampa Bay, when it only had nine shots on goal in the game. Alex Lyon will have to be alert.
– 1-0 Sabres. Zach Benson takes it away, drives the zone and sets up Josh Doan for a tap-in. Benson is every fan favorite. He shows why by being a pest and getting brilliant takeaway and help.
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– Lane Hutson is wide open in the left slot, but Alex Lyon holds strong with 15:45 left in the first.
– The first shift for the Sabers’ fourth line is fantastic with three big hits and a great setup for defenseman Logan Stanley, although he gets blocked.
– The Canadians put an end to the power play. Just one shot and a lot of missed tackles for Buffalo.
– Buffalo’s first shot on the power play comes at 1:50 and rips off Jakub Dobes’ mask, but he makes the save.
– The power of sabers is played 30 seconds into the game. Lane Hutson to the area. Encounter.
Before the game
– Bill Fichtner hits the drum and it’s time for hockey.
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– The Sabers are going strong with their starting line in this one: Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Josh Norris.
– The teams have returned to the ice. The Sabers mascot has descended from the ceiling. A couple of anthems and then playoff hockey.
– The Canadiens bring Arber Xhekaj back to the lineup with the third defenseman paired with Noah Dobson.
– Player warm-ups conclude around 6:45 pm Tage Thompson hits a five-hole backhand past substitute Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and skates away after finishing with a make. KeyBank Center is completing very well.
– As expected, Sam Carrick remains out with injury for the Sabres.
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– There is a towel on every seat in the venue for fans to greet. It says “Buffalo versus everyone,” with the words from top to bottom, so it also looks like it says Buffalo over everyone.
– There are already many fans in the building dressed in the red, white and blue of the Canadiens.
– One hour before puck drop, the warm-up clock reads 47 minutes, suggesting that with all the pregame procedures, the game shouldn’t start much after 7 p.m.
– For those wondering: Yes, there are a lot of Canadiens fans wandering around downtown Buffalo on Wednesday.
– This game should feature a matchup between two hot goaltenders, with Alex Lyon in net for the Sabers and Jakub Dobes guarding the net for the Canadiens.
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