3 Takeaways From the Sabres’ 6-3 Game 5 Loss to the Canadiens

Following a hard-fought and challenging Game 4 win, it felt like the tide may have been turning for the Buffalo Sabres. They had struggled mightily with the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 and 3 losses but seemed to figure things out in front of a hostile Bell Centre crowd.

Returning home to Buffalo, it felt like the Sabres had the momentum. And for 27 minutes, that was the case. But at the end of it all, the Canadiens rallied to bury the Sabres 6-3 and put them on the brink of elimination.

A Lack of Finish

Coming out of the first period, the Sabres held a 3-2 lead. In the first seven minutes of the second period, the Sabres controlled play and nearly scored on several occasions. They ultimately fell short, however, and the Canadiens turned the momentum for good shortly thereafter.

This isn’t the first time in the series where the Sabres had a chance to garner a backbreaker goal and failed to do so. When Josh Anderson scored at 8:01, the momentum had fully swung back into the corner of the Canadiens. And it only snowballed from there.

The Canadiens are too good to let back into games. The Sabres managed to hold them off in Game 4 but couldn’t do it again in Game 5 and it cost them. The Sabres need to be aggressive when they get a lead and put their boot to the Canadiens’ throat.

Where is the Top Line?

The Sabres had a few standouts in Game 4. Zach Benson has become the Rat King. The Sabres needed a big series out of a handful of players but ultimately have been let down by their biggest contributors – Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson.

Tuch was a monster against Boston, registering seven points and a plus-eight rating. Thompson was a force as well. The two have combined for two goals and two assists (all by Thompson in the last two games) and are a collective minus-17.

If the Sabres are going to survive and force a Game 7, they need more out of their biggest producers. Head coach Lindy Ruff already started trying something new, swapping out Peyton Krebs with Ryan McLeod and Konsta Helenius. It will be interesting to see what the top line looks like in Game 6.

Inconsistent Goaltending

Goaltending has been the dual-edged sword that Buffalo has lived and died by in these playoffs. When it is on, it is really on and has been a clear difference-maker for the Sabres. But when it isn’t, it stands out in a very noticeable way and not a good one.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was one of the heroes of Game 4. Unfortunately, he was one of the culprits of Game 5. He had some notable saves but also allowed five goals on 23 shots by the end of two periods before the Sabres went to Alex Lyon for the third period.

Going back to Lyon for Game 6 makes the most sense. He has been the better goalie of the two in the playoffs, and Luukkonen has just been too inconsistent to trust in an elimination game. If the Sabres can get high-level goaltending, they have a very good chance of winning. When they don’t however, it often turns disastrous.

Do or Die Time

Ruff has spoken about challenges and how this group has managed to overcome time and again this season. There is no bigger challenge than what awaits them on Saturday night. Going back to Montreal, facing elimination, the Sabres have their backs against the wall.

Who will respond? Will someone take this team on their back and will them back to Buffalo for a seventh game? The time for joy and contentment about what a great season this has been are over. If the Sabres want to be winners and not merely a nice story, they need to find another level now.