Here are my three takeaways from tonight’s 3-2 Montreal Canadiens loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 4.
1- Buffalo wakes up
The Sabres played their best game of the series and they needed to. Lindy Ruff pushed the right buttons, making three lineup changes, with the biggest one coming in goal by turning to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Buffalo used a goalie change to swing momentum in the previous round against Boston, and it worked again in Game 4. Considering how many goaltenders the Sabres have used this season, it’s not surprising they’d continue rotating in the playoffs.
Buffalo also got a little luck at the perfect time. Montreal was controlling the second period and it felt like the game was starting to tilt heavily in their favour when Tage Thompson scored one of the flukiest goals of the playoffs.
He attempted to rim the puck around the boards, it hit the stanchion, bounced directly in front, off Jakub Dobes and into the net. Just brutal luck for Montreal.
The game-winner came from Zach Benson on the power play, a unit that had been heavily criticized coming into the night. Benson, celebrating his 21st birthday, showed quick hands in front and made no mistake.
The win wasn’t dominant or pretty for Buffalo, but they got the result they needed and regained home-ice advantage. We’ve got a new series now, and no, this thing is far from over.
2- Rasmus Dahlin public enemy No. 1
Rasmus Dahlin is officially public enemy No. 1 in Montreal, and considering the history between these teams, that’s saying something.
Buffalo’s Norris Trophy finalist is everything you want in a defenseman. He’s competitive, smart, talented, and not fun to play against and that’s putting it lightly. He’s driving Montreal’s players and fans absolutely crazy.
Dahlin has a mean streak in his game and has been taking cheap shots at Canadiens players since the regular season, while many of his teammates have followed their captain’s lead. It’s no wonder he’s constantly involved in scrums and confrontations with opposing forwards.
Some of his antics nearly cost Buffalo. His favorite spot in the building seemed to be the penalty box and his favorite hobby was whining and complaining to the referees.
That emotional and temperamental side of his game is reminiscent of Nikita Kucherov in Round 1, and in that series it didn’t always work in Tampa Bay’s favour. We’ll see if Round 2 brings the same fate for Buffalo’s best player.
3- Caufield is back
Still looking for his first 5-on-5 goal of the playoffs, but Cole Caufield’s game is clearly coming back into form. He now has goals in back-to-back games and while last game’s goal was a tap-in gift from Lane Hutson, this one was vintage Caufield.
He showcased his quick hands in tight, forcing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to open up the five-hole and then burying it once the opening was there.
Earlier in the postseason, Caufield was clearly fighting it. There were moments where he double-clutched, mishandled pucks, or simply didn’t have the precision we’re used to seeing from him.
That now feels like it’s in the past. And like most goal scorers, once one goes in, they tend to come in bunches. Caufield had several other dangerous looks tonight, was much more involved offensively, and seemed to have the puck on a string again. That’s a great sign for Montreal moving forward.
