Lnh Canadiens Rout Sabres 6-2 After 53-Second Start

lnh canadiens turned a 53-second Buffalo opener into a 6-2 win Sunday night. The Sabres scored first, then spent the rest of the game chasing the puck and the score.

Juraj Slafkovsky scored Montreal’s fourth goal in the second period, part of a run that buried Buffalo after its quick start. The Canadiens generated 20 quality chances and earned six power plays, while Buffalo finished with a loss that added to a rough stretch.

Slafkovsky Adds Separation

Slafkovsky’s goal in the second period stretched the gap when Buffalo still needed a response. Montreal had already turned the game by then, and that strike made the comeback path even steeper for the Sabres.

The Canadiens did their damage with volume and pressure. They scored six times, drew six advantages, and kept forcing Buffalo to defend in its own end. That repeated pressure fed the final score and erased the early goal from Tage Thompson.

Buffalo Facing Its Own Errors

Buffalo allowed 11 goals over two games, including a 5-1 loss on Friday before Sunday’s defeat. The Sabres have now lost two consecutive games for the first time since April 4, a stretch that clashes with the five-month form Buffalo had carried before this skid.

After the game, Thompson said Montreal’s energy at the Centre Bell threw Buffalo off. He said, in French, “Les joueurs du Canadien se nourrissent de ça. De notre côté, il faudra nous habituer à cette atmosphère” and later added, “Nous en sommes capables.”

Ruff Sees Puck Decisions

Bowen Byram said his team needed better discipline to stay out of the penalty box, and Alex Lyon also praised Montreal’s quality of play. Lindy Ruff went further, criticizing his players’ bad and unusual decisions with the puck.

That leaves Buffalo with a clear problem after two straight losses: the early goal was not enough, and the response after it was too thin. The Canadiens took control, and the Sabres now have to clean up discipline, puck management, and the level of play Thompson said they will need to reach to get back in the series.