The Buffalo Sabres got one back in the second period, but it’s the Montreal Canadiens leading 2-1 through 40 minutes in Game 7 on Monday.
One of Montreal’s best potential chances of their scoreless period came early on, with Josh Anderson sent on a breakaway. They couldn’t capitalize, however, as Anderson was slow to get up after crashing into the post.
It remained scoreless for over 13 minutes into the frame before Buffalo finally broke through. A shot from Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson deflected off Jordan Greenway and by Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes to cut Buffalo’s deficit to one heading into the second intermission.
Though it was a slower-paced second frame, the goals have come fast and furious in this series, with the game’s first goal recorded within the first 6:30 of every game thus far. The trend continued on Monday.
Only 4:30 from puck drop, a shot from Montreal defenceman Kaiden Guhle deflected off Phillip Danault’s skate and past Buffalo netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, giving the Canadiens the early 1-0 lead.
Both Luukkonen and Jakub Dobes traded athletic stops until there were under eight minutes remaining in the frame, before a Zach Benson delay of game penalty sent Montreal to the power play.
It took nearly the whole advantage before a backhanded feed from Nick Suzuki found Zachary Bolduc for the one-timer goal, giving the Canadiens the 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission, before Buffalo got one back in the second.
The winner of Monday’s Game 7 will move on to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.
