Buffalo Sabres Overcome Adversity Despite Lack Of Playoff Experience: 'Stick With The Process'
MONTREAL – The sky was falling for the Buffalo Sabres after their Game 3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.
If going down 2-1 in this second-round series wasn't bad enough, the Sabres seemed rattled by the Canadiens' home crowd at the Bell Centre, and their physical, fast-paced brand of hockey that had made them so successful throughout the regular season seemed to be slipping away.
Over Games 2 and 3, the Sabres were outscored 11-3. There was widespread chatter that the Sabres, which ended a 14-year playoff drought, had not faced enough adversity to be prepared for this kind of pressure in the post-season and that the Canadiens simply outmatched them.
Tage Thompson tied the game in the second period off a shot from nearly center ice that bounced off the boards and past Dobes in what Samuelsson described as the hockey gods giving them a goal back.
In a choppy game that had 11 penalties, the Sabres were able to deal with the ebbs and flows and ultimately prevailed on the power play in the third period, with Zach Benson scoring the game-winning goal.
The Sabres got back into their structure late in the game with a one-goal lead, limiting Montreal's chances and playing a stingy style defensively, indicative of their 27 blocked shots on the night, many of which came in the final frame.
"It looked like our team again, from the way we started the game to the way we finished the game," Ruff said.
Buffalo Sabres Use Their Winning Formula By Switching Goalies Vs. Canadiens: 'It's What We Are'
The Buffalo Sabres are expected to start Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net after Alex Lyon allowed nine goals in his last two games. The team made effective use of its tandem during a memorable regular season.
Buffalo's calm and composed demeanor over the course of the night wouldn't have been possible without goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Not having played since April 21, Ruff took a gamble by giving Luukkonen the start over Alex Lyon, and he delivered in a must-win situation.
Luukkonen made 28 saves on 30 shots and has certainly helped flip the narrative as well as the dynamic of the series.
"He's been a great teammate," Ruff said of Luukkonen. "He's the guy that sits there and is pushing the other guy to play well, and he worked extremely hard knowing that his chance was going to come. And I even talked to him probably five, six days ago about your time will come. You got to be ready. He was happy for Lyon. It's all about the way this group has been. It's more about winning, and doesn't matter who's getting the wins. Let's just win hockey games."
Adversity has struck the Sabres multiple times throughout these playoffs. Early on in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins and after a disastrous Game 3 loss in Montreal, the pressure seemed to be overbearing for a young Sabres team.
The vast majority of Buffalo's players don't have playoff experience, and they are starting to learn how to handle the highs and lows that come with playing at this time of year.
"In the Boston series. Like you win Game 1, you think you're sweeping them, you lose Game 2, you think you're losing them five," Samuelsson said. "So like, just the emotional flows. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. Obviously, I've never experienced it before, but I'm getting a pretty good taste of it this year. So I think for me, I just try to enjoy the ride, enjoy the flows of it."
With this series tied 2-2, the Sabres have regained home-ice advantage, going back to Buffalo with newfound momentum and hope.
Most importantly, they've proven their maturity through the face of adversity, a trait critical in being a successful playoff team.
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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 8:58 AM.