The Buffalo Sabres rebounded from two of their worst performances of the season to score a critical Game 4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Now the series, which is tied at two wins apiece, shifts back to the KeyBank Center for Game 5 on Thursday night.
Buffalo has regained its status as a slight favorite — the Sabres have a 60% chance to advance, according to HockeyStats.com — but those odds are going to shift dramatically based on which Atlantic Division team emerges from Game 5 with the coveted 3-2 advantage.
For the Sabres, they've managed to remain level with the Habs despite some underwhelming play by a few of their key contributors. Now, as the seven-game series becomes a best-of-three battle for a spot in the Eastern Conference Final, the pressure amplifies on those players to make an impact.
Buffalo's depth has been the main driver of its success throughout the campaign, and now more than ever it's a vital element as the club tries to remain alive in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.
Alex Tuch (Winger)
Tuch was receiving some early Conn Smythe Trophy buzz after scoring seven points (four goals and three assists) in six games during the Sabres' first-round playoff triumph over the Boston Bruins. He was a dominant two-way force in that series.
The Syracuse native, who's an impending unrestricted free agent, has gone completely silent against Montreal, though. He's failed to record a point while compiling a minus-six rating and nine giveaways through four contests.
His struggles are part of a larger first-line problem for Buffalo. Tuch, Tage Thompson and Peyton Krebs have been outscored 4-0 at even strength vs. the Canadiens, while generating just 33.4% of the expected goals and 21.1% of the high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick.
Those brutal numbers made it surprising when head coach Lindy Ruff decided to keep the trio together after he shook up the forward lines ahead of Game 4. The Sabres are going to need a lot more offense from their top line over the final two (or three) games against the Habs.
Tuch didn't have a single four-game stretch without a point during the regular season, and Buffalo will hope that means he's due for a breakthrough in Game 5 on Thursday.
Ryan McLeod (Center)
McLeod was demoted to the fourth line as part of the Game 4 lineup changes, which led him to play less than nine minutes on Tuesday, and nearly half that ice time came on the penalty kill. It was his least ice time of any game this season.
The 26-year-old center posted a career-high 54 points (14 goals and 40 assists) during the regular season, and 41 of those points came at even strength. His ability to lead a productive third line, regardless of who was on his wings, was crucial for Buffalo.
Alas, the production from McLeod, Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn has dropped off dramatically in the postseason, which left Ruff little option beyond giving prized prospect Konsta Helenius a chance to provide a spark, which he did on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, McLeod's struggles in the faceoff circle have also been a problem. He won 52.3% of his draws during his first campaign with the Sabres, but that number dipped to 47.7% this season and it's been an even bigger issue in the playoffs (45.9%).
He's transformed one of the club's most dependable, consistent players into a virtual non-factor outside of the penalty kill. Getting him back on track would provide a massive boost.
Bowen Byram (Defenseman)
Like Tuch, Byram was nothing short of terrific against the Bruins. He scored goals in three straight games against Boston en route to five points and a plus-six rating in the opening-round matchup.
The mobile defenseman, who previously captured a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, continued his hot streak with a goal in Game 1 against the Canadiens. He's been perhaps the worst player on the ice over the past three outings, though.
Byram went pointless while recording a minus-six rating and eight penalty minutes in Games 2 through 4. He took a pair of completely inexplicable high-sticking penalties on Tuesday night, including a double minor that required a clutch penalty kill from Buffalo.
The 2019 first-round pick has run hot and cold throughout his Sabres tenure, so the sudden drop off doesn't come as a total surprise, but it was certainly an ill-timed dip. That's particularly true given the team's problems when relying on its third defensive pair.
That said, Byram is just as capable of flipping the switch again and becoming the difference-maker Buffalo needs to punch its ticket to the penultimate round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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