NHL: Alex Lyon has 'caught fire' in net as Sabres, Habs prepare for Game 2

The Montreal Canadiens aim to bring home-ice advantage back to Quebec in their best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres. To do that, they’ll need a much stronger performance in Friday’s Game 2.

Montreal stumbled in a 4-2 loss on Wednesday, both literally and figuratively, in the series opener. On home ice, Buffalo struck less than five minutes in when Lane Hutson slipped near center ice, creating a 3-on-1 opportunity. Josh Doan tapped in a Zach Benson pass that got past defenseman Noah Dobson.

Nine minutes later, Doan and Benson teamed up again for Ryan McLeod’s power-play goal. With five points each in the playoffs—two goals and three assists—both forwards are among eight Sabres players with at least four points and seven with two or more goals in Buffalo’s seven playoff games so far.

Buffalo built a 4-1 lead midway through the second period and looked far more comfortable than they did in their April 19 playoff opener against the Boston Bruins. That game, the team’s first postseason appearance in 15 years, required four late goals in just 6:46 to secure a surprising victory.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff praised his team’s overall play but acknowledged there is still room for improvement.

One area where Buffalo has excelled this postseason is in goal. Alex Lyon took over for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen late in the second game against Boston and has allowed just seven goals in five playoff starts, posting a 1.30 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage.

“He’s really wrapped his arms around the opportunity,” Ruff said of Lyon, who at 33 has played for five NHL teams over nine seasons. The coach compared him to Scott Wedgewood, a goalie Ruff coached in New Jersey.

“Alex has that temperament—never give up, outwork you, and show he deserves to be here,” Ruff added. On Wednesday, Lyon stopped 26 of 28 shots.

On the other side, Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes had his worst game of the postseason, making only 12 saves. Despite the rough outing, the 24-year-old Czech netminder has a .910 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average in eight playoff games so far.

For Montreal, Wednesday’s loss continued the team’s win-one, lose-one pattern in the playoffs. Nick Suzuki scored a first-period power-play goal to cut Buffalo’s lead in half, and Kirby Dach added his third postseason goal late in the second period, tying him with Juraj Slafkovsky for Montreal’s team lead.

The Canadiens outshot the Sabres by 12 and held a 53-47 advantage in total shot attempts, according to Natural Stat Trick. However, Montreal only led 29-28 in scoring chances, with Buffalo creating 12 high-danger opportunities to Montreal’s 11.

“Whether it’s a big win or a loss, you regroup and get ready,” said Dobson, who returned for Game 7 against Tampa Bay after missing three weeks with a hand injury. “Our focus is on tomorrow. Get a big win tomorrow, then go back home 1-1. That’s all that matters.”

-Field Level Media/Reuters