Sabres vs. Canadiens live score, updates, highlights from Game 1 of NHL playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals
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Sabres vs. Canadiens live score, updates, highlights from Game 1 of NHL playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The highly anticipated NHL Eastern Conference playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens has arrived at the KeyBank Center on Wednesday night.
It's one of those series that looks right off the bat like it could last seven games, but it has to start with Game 1.
The Sabres are playing in their first second-round playoff game in 19 years.
The Canadiens, who have won more Stanley Cups than any team in NHL history, are chasing their first Cup since 1993.
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If one of these teams wants to hoist the Stanley Cup, there are still 12 more wins to go from this point.
That's a journey they're both chasing, and it'll lead to some high-intensity hockey in this Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Below, we'll be keeping track of the live action from our view at press level in the KeyBank Center, so follow along.
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Sabres vs. Canadiens live score
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Score | |
| Canadiens | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Sabres | 2 | - | - | 2 |
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Sabres vs. Canadiens live updates
First Period
- End of one: Sabres 2, Canadiens 1.
- Canadiens goal -- Juraj Slafkovsky gives it to Nick Suzuki for a tap-in on the power play. With 43.4 seconds left in the first period, the Sabres now lead 2-1.
- Canadiens will go on the power play with 2:02 left in the first period. Rasmus Dahlin for interference.
- It remains 2-0 Buffalo with 3:11 in the first period. Montreal has outshot the Sabres, 7-6.
- Ryan McLeod from a tight angle. 2-0 Sabres, a powerplay goal with 6:34 left in the first period. And guess who else on the assist? It's Zach Benson. Josh Doan had the secondary assist.
- Sabres powerplay with 8:25 left in the first. Nick Suzuki for tripping. It was Bowen Byram who got into a dangerous position to draw the trip.
- Another chance on the doorstep. Ivan Demidov denied this time by Lyon. 9:12 to play in the first.
- Phillip Danault had the best chance for Montreal, point blank about nine minutes into this one, but Lyon slid well and denied it.
- Montreal is creating more chances than it did in its Game 7 win over Tampa Bay, when it had just nine shots on goal for the game. Alex Lyon will have to be sharp.
- 1-0 Sabres. Zach Benson takes it away, drives the zone, and sets up Josh Doan for a tap-in. Benson is every fan's favorite. He proves why by being a pest and getting a brilliant takeaway and assist.
- Lane Hutson wide open in the left slot but Alex Lyon stands strong with 15:45 left in the first.
- First shift for the Sabres' fourth line is a fantastic one with three big hits and a great setup for defenseman Logan Stanley, although it gets blocked.
- Canadiens kill the power play. Only one shot, and a lot of failed entries for Buffalo.
- Buffalo's first shot on the power play comes 1:50 into it, and it knocks off Jakub Dobes' mask, but he makes the save.
- Sabres power play 30 seconds into the game. Lane Hutson to the box. Tripping.
Pregame
- Bill Fichtner hits the drum and it's hockey time.
- The Sabres are going with energy on their starting line in this one -- Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Josh Norris.
- The teams are back on the ice. The Sabres' mascot has descended from the ceiling. A couple of anthems and then playoff hockey.
- The Canadiens bring Arber Xhekaj back into the lineup on the third defenseman pairing with Noah Dobson.
- Player warmups wrapping up about 6:45 p.m. Tage Thompson slots in a backhand, five-hole shot past backup Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and skates off after finishing on a make. KeyBank Center filling in nicely.
- As was mostly expected, Sam Carrick remains out with injury for the Sabres.
- There's a towel on each seat in the place for fans to wave. It reads "Buffalo versus everybody," with the words going top-to-bottom so it also looks like it says Buffalo over everybody.
- There are a lot of fans already in the building in Canadiens red, white and blue.
- An hour before listed puck drop, the warmup clock reads 47 minutes, which suggests that with all the pregame proceedings, this game shouldn't start too long after the listed 7 p.m.
- For those wondering: Yes, there are plenty of Canadiens fans wandering around downtown Buffalo on Wednesday.
- This game should feature a matchup of two red-hot goalies, with Alex Lyon in net for the Sabres and Jakub Dobes tending the twine for the Canadiens.
