Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki drops ‘worst game’ admission after ugly Game 6 loss to Sabres appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Montreal Canadiens missed a chance to close out their second-round series on Saturday night after an 8-3 defeat against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 at Bell Centre. Montreal surrendered seven consecutive goals and allowed the series to be pushed to a deciding Game 7.
“It’s probably the worst game we’ve played,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “We’re only going up. I think it’s going to be important for guys to look themselves in the mirror and say we’ve got an opportunity to win one game and move on to the third round. We’d take that any time throughout the season.”
Montreal opened the night with a fast start, scoring three times on its first three shots after Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin scored 32 seconds into the game. Goals from Arber Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov on the power play, and Jake Evans short-handed gave the Canadiens a 3-1 lead and forced the Sabres to pull starting goaltender Alex Lyon after he stopped only one of four shots.
However, Buffalo completely controlled the rest of the game. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen entered in relief and stopped all 17 shots he faced, while the Sabres outshot Montreal 36-22 and owned 68.19% of the expected goals at five-on-five. Buffalo also went 4-for-6 on the power play, improving to 9-for-24 in the series.
Dahlin finished with five points, including one goal and four assists, tying the franchise playoff single-game scoring record previously matched by Derek Roy in 2006 and John Tucker in 1988. Jack Quinn recorded his first career playoff goals in a two-goal, three-point performance, while Tage Thompson contributed four points with a goal and three assists. Jason Zucker and Zach Benson each added a goal and an assist, with Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also scoring.
The eight goals were a playoff high for the Sabres and set a franchise road playoff record. The Canadiens had not previously lost a potential series-clinching home game after leading by multiple goals.
Despite the collapse, Montreal enter Monday’s Game 7 in Buffalo with an 8-2 record in their last 10 Game 7 appearances since 1992 and are 5-0 this postseason following a loss.
Related: Canadiens’ Martin St. Louis gives credit to Sabres for ‘very good’ Game 6 performance
Related: Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov reaches Henri Richard territory with Game 6 goal vs. Sabres
