Two in the Box

Just like their first round series, the Sabres hold a 1-0 lead after taking game one at home by a score of 4-2. 

The script was different than the Bruins series, however. Buffalo drew first blood in the opening five minutes after, who else, Zach Benson pressured Lane Hutson and pounced on a loose puck in the neutral zone and dished around a sprawling Noah Dobson to set up Josh Doan for a net-side dunk. Buffalo made it 2-0 about 10 minutes later and led 4-1 before the Habs clawed back to 4-2 late in the second. 

The change in pace from the Bruins series was evident from the opening puck drop. Both teams had rush opportunities and there was far more room to operate in the neutral zone. We’ll see if that persists, especially after Buffalo generated a pair of tallies off the rush. Kirby Dach’s goal also came in transition, albeit off a clumsy turnover from Tage Thompson, and Montreal had their share of rush opportunities as well. I’m not sure if we’ll see both teams try to choke each other out in the neutral zone, but I wouldn’t be surprised if both coaches try and refine how their teams are operating in the neutral zone for game two. 

Another thing that was evident early on was the difference in skill between Montreal’s depth forwards and Boston’s. There were a few instances where the Sabres got hemmed in or failed to exit the zone on account of Montreal’s work on the boards. There weren’t too many great chances generated off those plays, but that’s an area where I expect the Canadiens will continue to pester the Sabres.

Fourth Line Drivers

It was a big night for Jordan Greenway, Tyson Kozak and Beck Malenstyn. The broadcast gave Greenway a lot of love and he earned it, playing a very noticeable, physical game. He scored a pretty impressive goal from distance and created a few other great opportunities by virtue of being a bull below the goal line. Lindy Ruff did a good job keeping them away from any lopsided matchups and they played a steady, even game. Shots and Corsi numbers were even with that group on the ice, but they won the expected goals battle, outchancing the Canadiens 7-5 and 5-1 in high danger chances. 

Second Unit Strikes

The Sabres didn’t just pot one power play goal, they put two behind Jakub Dobes, an encouraging start for the beleaguered unit. Their power play success wasn’t without it’s fair share of speed bumps. The first unit couldn’t enter the zone on the first two power plays of the game and Ryan McLeod’s first period goal came in the dying seconds of that second attempt for the Sabres. They don’t ask how, they ask how many. So, for tonight, we can celebrate the end result. 

The big story here is that it was the second unit which scored both goals. Josh Doan’s almost PPG in the first round was also the product of some quality work from the second unit, even though it was an even strength goal in the end. Among the reasons I suspect the second unit is enjoying more success is the presence of Benson and Doan, McLeod’s ability to enter with speed and his ability to win a few more draws than Thompson. While the first unit tends to be a disaster trying to enter the zone, McLeod has the luxury of turning on the jets to hit an outside lane. It’s not a perfect solution, but it works a hell of a lot better than anything they’re trying with Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin or Josh Norris. Benson and Doan don’t just provide an edge in puck retrievals, Doan is sneakily effective at the net-front and Benson is a quality playmaker who is a better passing threat than anyone on the first unit aside from Dahlin. 

If the lone goal was to get the first unit going, I would swap Benson and Doan for Jason Zucker and Josh Norris. For the sake of balance, leaving that pair on the second unit keeps that group dangerous, Ruff may need to consider getting them out a touch earlier if the opportunity presents itself. 

Clinical Third Period

The shot counter paints a picture that the Sabres were under siege all night, but that’s not quite the case. While the Sabres certainly can’t try and survive this series being outshot by 12 or more each game, Buffalo did a very good job preventing Montreal from piling up chances in game one. 

According to Natural Stat Trick, shot attempts for the night were even at 38 a piece and high danger chances favored the Sabres 10-6. The third period looked an awful lot like the third periods in games three and six of the Boston series, where the Sabres played a disciplined defensive game that killed plays early and prevented the Canadiens from generating chances in the slot. Just look at the shot chart at 5-on-5 in the third period:

Montreal managed a couple of chances at the net front, and would later generate a few quality chances with the goalie pulled, but they were stymied for the majority of the period. That’s become a trend for the Sabres here in the postseason and it will pay off if they keep it up. 

Affecting Dobes

Obviously it was huge to get an early goal to help set the tone for the game and chip away at Dobes, who was phenomenal for the Habs in the first round. It was equally notable to me that the Sabres took away his eyes on the third and fourth goals. I’m going to be a broken record on this one but slot line movement and traffic will be the two keys to beating Dobes with any regularity. Doan’s goal was a slam dunk but it was also off a pass that crossed the slot. Same with McLeod’s goal. Yes, Benson made excellent individual plays on each of those goals, but both plays forced Dobes to play Benson as a shooter and each pass went to a spot he couldn’t get to. Alex Tuch lifted a golden opportunity over the net and Jack Quinn hit the crossbar. Both of those plays also came off passes that crossed the slot line. It’s the recipe to beat just about every goalie in the NHL, it’s up to the Sabres to maintain that pattern.