The Buffalo Sabres had an ugly performance on Friday night in front of the home crowd in Game 2 of their series against the Montreal Canadiens. It was a game where they were not really competitive at any point, outside of Zach Benson's goal late in the second, and lost 5-1.
After the game, Lindy Ruff talked about what great players are able to do in these situations. "All the best players I've been around know how to flush that and get ready for the next game," Ruff said. With that in mind, these are four players in particular who need to flush Game 2 and get ready for Game 3.
Tage Thompson
There is no question that a lot of the discussion after that game has centered around Tage Thompson, from his play on the ice to his postgame comments. During the game, Thompson had a horrible turnover in the third period that the Canadiens quickly turned into a goal that essentially put the game out of reach as they pushed the lead to 4-1.
After the game, Thompson was asked if he was injured, and his response raised eyebrows when he said, "I don't think that's any of your business."
Asked whether he is playing through an injury, Sabres center Tage Thompson said: "I don’t think that’s any of your business."
— Matthew Fairburn (@MatthewFairburn) May 9, 2026
Thompson clearly was frustrated after the game, and he responded the best way he could. It felt as if he was injured; he didn't want to use the injury as an excuse for his performance, but he also didn't want to give the Canadiens any indication that he might be playing hurt.
It felt like during the game, Thompson was really pressing and trying to do too much to make a play happen. When players are viewed as one of the leaders or one of the top players, there is a desire to do it all in hopes of pulling their team back into the game.
When looking ahead to Game 3, Thompson will once again want to do it all for his team, but this is something he should "flush" and lean more on his teammates.
Rasmus Dahlin
While it may not be the entire game, Rasmus Dahlin certainly has one play that he will want to forget and move on. In the second period, the Sabres had held the Canadiens to only those two goals and had the game within reach.
However, early in that period, the Canadiens would add to their lead on a play that usually doesn't end in a goal, especially with Rasmus Dahlin covering. The play had Jake Evans bringing the puck up, but out wide up the boards.
Evans would send a perfect pass to Alex Newhook, who Dahlin was covering. Unfortunately, the Sabres defenseman didn't do enough to lift Newhook's stick, and he was able to beat Lyon for the goal.
Josh Norris
Fans didn't have to wait until after the game to see how frustrated Josh Norris was with his performance in Game 2. In the third period, Norris would miss a wide-open net, and after that would be seen on the bench swinging his stick until it broke.
When Norris is playing his best, like in the regular season when he had 17 points over 18 games, he can be a difference maker for this team. Unfortunately, the Sabres haven't seen that player during the playoffs, as he has only one goal in five playoff games, and he missed three games due to injury.
For Norris, it isn't just one game but the latest game that he needs to move past, as the Sabres definitely could use the Norris they saw earlier in the season.
Alex Lyon
Entering Game 2, Alex Lyon had allowed only seven goals over five playoff starts this season, but on Friday night gave up four goals on 27 shots. It is tough to blame Lyon completely, as the skaters in front of him certainly have to shoulder some of the blame, especially with turnovers like the one Tage Thompson had.
For Lyon, it is going to be important that this performance doesn't carry over to the next game. He has been exceptional since replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net in the third period of Game 2 against the Boston Bruins.
This is only his second playoff loss this season, and the Sabres are going to need him to respond the way he did in his last loss. That was also a home game against the Bruins, as the Sabres would lose 2-1 in overtime.
The Sabres went on the road for Game 6, and Lyon put together a stellar performance where he allowed only one goal on 26 shot attempts and helped the Sabres secure a 4-1 win.
As bad as Game 2 was, the Sabres are in the same spot they were in the series against the Boston Bruins. That is a series that is tied at one, and they are heading on the road for the next two games. In the Bruins series, the Sabres would win both road games and take a commanding lead in the series, and if some of these players can "flush" this game, they will get right back on track.
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