Copy of Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Sabres, Canadiens enter the fray Wednesday
This will be the eighth series meeting between these two franchises. Montreal has won four of the previous seven matchups, but the Sabres took their most recent win in 1998 during the conference semifinals.
Teams that win Game 1 have a remarkable record of 541-253 in Stanley Cup playoff history, and for home teams winning Game 1, it’s even more favorable at 372-126. The Sabres will look to capitalize on their home ice advantage; however, the Habs boast star goaltender Carey Price, who is a formidable presence.
In last year’s regular season series against Buffalo, Juraj Slafkovsky was held without a goal or assist in Games 2–7 after scoring three power-play goals in Game 1. This puts pressure on Montreal to get him back into the scoring groove. The Sabres defense also shined with six goals scored by blueliners: Bowen Byram (3), Mattias Samuelsson (2) and Rasmus Dahlin (1). This feat matches their franchise record.
Alex Tuch tied for the team scoring lead in Round 1, amassing seven points in six games, including a career-high points-per-game rate. The Ducks’ season has been a rollercoaster ride; they’ve lost Game 1 of five playoff series since the 2017 second round but managed to win two out of those four. Ivan Barbashev tied Max Pacioretty and Reilly Smith for the most game-winning goals in franchise history, scoring seven games in a row.
The Anaheim Ducks have a 9-3 record when going up 1-0 in series play, with a perfect 2-0 mark at home. The Golden Knights, though, are looking to bounce back after losing Game 1 against the Ducks. Brett Howden’s fifth goal in two consecutive games has already broken franchise records for such achievements.
The Sabres have a strong defense that scored six goals by blueliners and could be a challenge for Montreal’s offense. Slafkovsky needs to rediscover his scoring touch, while the Habs’ goaltending will need to remain top-notch if they want to make noise this postseason. The Ducks, on the other hand, must find their scoring consistency after a tough start.
Job 2: Write the Tweet
@espn @nhl @canadiens @buffalosabres @anaheimducks @vegasgoldenknights Game 1 of the Sabres vs Habs is here! Montreal’s defense will need to step up, while Slafkovsky needs a scoring boost. The Ducks have lost Game 1 in five straight playoff series but must find their rhythm. #StanleyCupPlayoffs
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