The Buffalo Sabres steamrolled through the NHL from early December through Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. They appeared unstoppable at times.
Then the Habs delivered a massive statement with back-to-back blowout wins to secure a 2-1 series lead. The Sabres probably felt like they received a devastating, collective punch to the gut that caused them to stagger for the first time in five months.
Now the question is whether Buffalo can bounce back. It features a young roster with several players appearing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. Learning the realities of what it takes to win at this point in the campaign isn't easily accomplished on the fly.
So, the Sabres will lean heavily on the nearly five decades of NHL experience owned by head coach Lindy Ruff to help them navigate a suddenly desperate situation. How they respond in Game 4 on Tuesday night will determine what comes next for the Blue and Gold.
Sabres must protect the inner slot defensively
Buffalo has allowed 11 goals over the past two games. Yet, goalie Alex Lyon deserves little, if any, blame for those struggles. The club's defensive structure has completely broken down, giving the Canadiens virtually unlimited access to the most dangerous areas of the ice.
As we analyzed Monday, the Habs averaged nearly 50 slot drives in Games 2 and 3. They had just 23 in the Sabres' Game 1 win. That's a failure of monumental proportions.
The door the the house is unlocked 🔓
— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) May 11, 2026
After dropping Game 1, the Canadiens have won two straight against the Sabres. Montreal with a sizeable lead in slot driving plays (carries / passes into the slot) in Games 2 and 3. pic.twitter.com/fWhyHVEydL
Ruff's group actually did a terrific job of protecting the inner slot throughout the regular season. They play a system where one player puts pressure on the puck-carrier while the other four collapse down through the front of the net, which forced a lot of low-danger shots by opponents.
The Canadiens have ample offensive skill, however, and their quick passing around the offensive zone has led the Sabres to struggle with their coverage assignments. The resulting scramble has frequently allowed Montreal to fire off uncontested slot shots.
They need to stop chasing the puck so erratically and, if all else fails, focus more on protecting the top of the crease rather than ending up out of position defensively.
Buffalo needs to make better passing decisions
The most consistent theme of the Sabres' miserable 14-year playoff drought was an inability to string together passes. There were various reasons for that problem, ranging from a lack of talent to poor offensive systems, but it never quite went away.
Buffalo was far better in that area throughout the 2025-26 campaign, which is why it was so successful in creating transition opportunities and scoring off the rush. It was even on display in Game 1 as Zach Benson delivered a couple highlight-reel passes leading to goals.
The Canadiens amplified the pressure starting in Game 2, and the Sabres didn't have an answer. There were a lot of panic passes, especially in the defensive zone while trying to clear the puck, and it led the endless turnovers that allowed the Habs to constantly restart their attacks.
This issue also extends to Buffalo's dreadful power play. An inability to target the right player on entry attempts has allowed Montreal, which is crowding the blue line with all four defenders, to make an easy read and, in most cases, the Canadiens generate a simple clear.
Given the Sabres' limited postseason experience, this feels like a problem stemming from not being able to process the play fast enough while under immense pressure. In turn, it may not be a simple fix, especially if the Habs remain aggressive on the forecheck.
Hit the net!
Buffalo has been creating decent offensive looks despite scoring just three goals over the past two games. It just isn't putting enough pressure on Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes when getting into those prime scoring areas, though.
The Sabres have generated 168 shot attempts in the series (56 per game), but they've turned those into just 73 shots on goal in all situations. That's a 43.5% rate. By comparison, 49.2% of the Sabres' shot attempts were on goal during the regular season. The Habs are at 53.4% in the series.
It's almost unbelievable how many times the Blue and Gold worked to produce a good look only the fire the ensuing shot high or wide of the net. The Canadiens have also done fantastic job tracking down the loose pucks to start breakouts in the opposite direction in those situations.
Tage Thompson (four shots from 14 attempts) and Jack Quinn (two shots from 13 attempts) have been the most problematic skaters in this area. Both have lethal shots, too. Making sure more of those scoring chances end up at least challenging Dobes is paramount moving forward.
Not all hope is lost for the Sabres — HockeyStats.com still gives them a 40% chance to advance — but they must play exponentially better in Game 4 to get back on track before it's too late.
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