NHL: Buffalo on the Brink of Elimination — Montreal Looks to Close Out Series at Home
The sixth game of the series between Montreal and Buffalo takes place tomorrow. The Canadiens lead 3-2 and have an excellent chance to finish the matchup in their favor on home ice. The Sabres need nothing less than a win.
Main Event
Tomorrow, May 16, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the sixth game of the second-round playoff series in the NHL Eastern Conference between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres will take place. The home team leads the series 3-2 and is one step away from advancing to the conference finals — an achievement the club hasn't reached since 2021. For Buffalo, this game is a moment of truth: only a win keeps hope alive for their first trip to the third round of the Stanley Cup in 15 years.
Details and Statistics
The fifth game of the series, played on May 14 in Buffalo, was a goal-scoring spectacle with a dramatic storyline. Montreal came from behind to win 6-3, trailing 2-3 after the first period. The teams engaged in a high-scoring shootout: by the 10th minute of the first period, the score was already 3-2 in favor of the home team, with five goals scored in an 8-minute, 15-second span — the 11th fastest such stretch in NHL playoff history.
The second period proved pivotal, as the Canadiens scored three unanswered goals. Josh Anderson tied the game at the 28-minute mark, Jake Evans put the visitors ahead at 36 minutes, and captain Nick Suzuki added a power-play goal 68 seconds later to extend the lead. Russian forward Ivan Demidov sealed the final score at the 44-minute mark with a power-play goal off assists from Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky.
For the 20-year-old Demidov, this goal was special — his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal. Before the fifth game, the Russian had gone 17 playoff games without scoring, which created some psychological pressure. An interesting detail: before the game, Demidov changed his stick tape color from black back to white — and the superstition paid off. In addition to the goal, the forward also recorded an assist and was named the third star of the game.
Game statistics show Montreal's total dominance in key categories. The visitors won 33 faceoffs to Buffalo's 26, converted two of four power-play opportunities, and goaltender Jakub Dobeš, who allowed three goals on the first four shots, managed to regroup and finished the game with 33 saves. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled after the second period, allowing five goals on 23 shots — his second removal in the current playoffs.
Context and Significance
The series between Montreal and Buffalo has taken a paradoxical turn. The Sabres won the Atlantic Division in the regular season and confidently dispatched Boston in the first round (4-2), allowing just 12 goals in six games. However, against the Canadiens, Buffalo's defense has cracked: over five games, the team has allowed 21 goals, 19 of them in the last four games.
For Montreal, this playoff run is a story of resilience. In the first round, the team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games, and now they are one step away from the semifinals. The Canadiens last reached this stage in 2021, when they eventually made it to the Stanley Cup Final, losing to Tampa in five games.
The return of Montreal's top line to productive play adds extra significance to Game 6. The trio of Suzuki, Slafkovsky, and Caufield combined for just 4 goals and 5 assists in the first four games of the series, but in Game 5 they tore apart the opponent's defense: Suzuki had a goal and two assists, Slafkovsky three assists, and Caufield opened the scoring. Defenseman Lane Hutson added two assists — he now has six assists in the last four games.
What's Next / Preview of the Next Game
Game 6 of the series will be held at Montreal's Bell Centre in front of 21,000 fans. Home-ice advantage is a significant factor: the Canadiens have already beaten Buffalo on this ice in Game 2 of the series, 5-1.
The Sabres' coaching staff faces a goaltending decision. Luukkonen struggled in Game 5 and was pulled for the second time this postseason. Alex Lyon, who came on in relief, allowed one goal on three shots, but he might get the start for the crucial game — a similar switch occurred after Game 3, which ended in a 6-2 blowout loss for Buffalo.
If Montreal wins, the team advances to the Eastern Conference Final, where they will face the winner of the Carolina-Philadelphia series. If Buffalo wins, the series returns to Buffalo for a decisive Game 7, scheduled for May 18. For the Sabres, this playoff run is a chance to rewrite history: the club hasn't reached the semifinals since 2007 and has never won the Stanley Cup since its founding.
— Editorial Team
