Here are my three takeaways from tonight’s 5-1 Montreal Canadiens Game 2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
1- What a dream start
Playing from behind isn’t easy, and Montreal rarely had to do it in Round 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In Game 1 of this series, the Canadiens spent the entire night chasing the game and couldn’t find a way to dig themselves out of the hole.
They completely flipped the script in Game 2, forcing Buffalo to chase from the opening minutes, and the formula wasn’t complicated: get bodies to the net and throw pucks at Alex Lyon.
The first goal came from strong puck pursuit by Montreal, with Alex Newhook driving into traffic and deflecting a Kaiden Guhle shot past Lyon. The second was the result of an offensive-zone faceoff win by Phillip Danault and a seeing-eye shot from Mike Matheson that found its way through. For Matheson, it was his first playoff goal since 2022 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Faceoffs were a major edge for Montreal all night, and those quick strikes early completely took the crowd out of the game in Buffalo. The Canadiens grabbed control early and never let go.
2- Newhook shines
Montreal’s best player tonight was Alex Newhook. Not only because he scored two big goals, but because he was noticeable every single shift.
His skating and acceleration have always been his biggest strengths, but this season he’s finally started finishing plays consistently, something that had been questioned earlier in his career. His second goal was a perfect example, using his speed to create separation on an odd-man rush and get himself open.
Jake Evans deserves credit for the pass, but so does Noah Dobson, who absorbed a huge hit from the Buffalo forecheck to start the sequence. That’s playoff hockey. It’s about willingness and compete level.
Since arriving in Montreal, Newhook’s biggest strength has been his versatility. He can play center or wing, take faceoffs, move throughout the lineup, and kill penalties. Oh, and he’s also the only player on this roster who knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup.
3- The anemic Buffalo power play returns
Buffalo’s power play has been struggling for a while now, and Game 1 is starting to look more and more like an outlier. Their man advantage went right back to looking ineffective tonight, which is obviously good news for Montreal.
Not only is Buffalo failing to score on the power play, it’s actually killing momentum and frustrating the crowd. The Canadiens took several unnecessary penalties, including an Arber Xhekaj penalty that would’ve been brutal had Buffalo capitalized. Instead, the Sabres finished 0-for-4.
If Montreal ends up winning this series, Buffalo’s power play is going to become one of the biggest storylines.
And it’s not just the power play. Tage Thompson has been almost invisible through two games. The only time he really stood out tonight was when he coughed up the puck, leading to Alex Carrier’s goal, which effectively put the game away.
Not only has Thompson struggled offensively, but he’s also been on the ice for five of Montreal’s seven goals in the series. Through two games, he has just one shot on goal, which is almost impossible to believe for a player with his scoring ability.
Credit has to go to the Canadiens for that. They neutralized Tampa Bay’s stars in Round 1, and so far, they’re doing the exact same thing to Buffalo in Round 2.
Mitch Gallo is co-host of ‘Campbell vs. Gallo,’ as well as Canadiens pre- and post-game coverage on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. You can follow him on ‘X’ at @MitchyGallo.
