Round 1 Hangover Hits Habs As They Lose Game 1 to Sabres

After an emotional 7-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Montreal Canadiens struggled to get anything going in Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres, falling 4-2 to the more rested team. While, Jakub Dobes was incredible against the Lightning leading them to victory in Game 7, it was a much different night on Wednesday as he struggled to make the important saves when they were needed most.

The Montreal Canadiens drop Game 1 of the series, falling 4–2 to the Buffalo Sabres.

Thoughts, #Habs fans?

Series: Sabres lead 1–0.

Les Canadiens de Montréal échappent le match no 1 de la série, s’inclinant 4 à 2 face aux Buffalo Sabres.

Série : les Sabres mènent 1–0.#Habs… pic.twitter.com/YENsu2FYOJ

— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) May 7, 2026

Dobes finished the night stopping just 12 of the 16 shots he faced, which is far from what is expected of him. However, given how well he performed in Round 1, he will receive a one-game grace period after the hard-fought and emotional series he just went through. There were a few goals that he would definitely want back nonetheless.

While Dobes had a night to forget, the Habs players in front of him attempted to make a comeback in 3rd period but it was a little too late as they couldn’t get anything past Alex Lyon in the final frame of regulation despite outshooting the Sabres 11-1 in the frame.  At the same time, they weren’t able to create many prime scoring chances that truly challenged Lyon. The Habs clearly had more space and it’s hopefully something that they will take advantage of later in the series, but sadly they just couldn’t capitalize in Game 1. We should expect more from them in the next game after a tough Game 1, which was needed to experience the lows of playoff hockey.

Last night’s loss was unfortunately very predictable…

Pierre McGuire: “I was worried that the start was going to be a problem for Montreal”#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/ObTS3CAnhk

— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) May 7, 2026

One of those lows was the penalty kill, which was very good during the Tampa Bay Lightning but had its struggles with the cross ice passes by the Sabres. Ironically, the Sabres’ power play scored only one goal in their previous series, yet they already have two in this series after Game 1. Essentially, Game 1 woke up their power play as they went 2-for-3 on the man advantage after going 1-for-24 in Round 1. The Habs will need to figure out how to stop them on Friday if they want a chance to win Game 2, as they can’t allow the Sabres to continue capitalizing on every chance they get. On the flip side, the Habs also got some power play production as they went 1-for-2, putting an end to their slump on the man advantage as well. For a series that was expected to see the penalty kill be the strong point of special teams, that was far from the case in Game 1.

JOSH DOAN!

The @BuffaloSabres are on the board first in Game 1!

📺: @NHL_On_TNT, @Sportsnet, & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/dYDHwU0Fh2

— NHL (@NHL) May 6, 2026

As tough of a night as it was Dobes, his defence certainly didn’t help him much either on some of those goals, particularly the game’s opening goal by Sabres forward Josh Doan early in the first period. Firstly, Lane Hutson stumbled with the puck, allowing a 3-on-1 to break out for the Sabres, then Noah Dobson slid too early to block the pass, which allowed Zach Benson to simply make a back door pass at the other side of the net for Doan to tap-in to make it 1-0 for the Sabres.

RYAN MCLEOD DOUBLES BUFFALO’S LEAD ✌️ pic.twitter.com/yMNE2YpUzm

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 6, 2026

Later in the first period, another breakdown this time on the penalty kill would allow Ryan McLeod to put the Sabres up 2-0, causing it to be the first time the Habs were down by 2 goals in the whole playoffs. The Habs defenders were covering the slot and left McLeod alone at the side of the net where Benson was able to slide the puck over to him for an easy one-timer over Dobes’ sliding pad. Overall, the goals allowed by the Habs in the first period were of the results of defensive breakdowns, whereas the later ones were likely ones that Dobes would want back.

NICK SUZUKI HAS THE HABS ON THE BOARD 🫡 pic.twitter.com/0MSrocoCft

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 6, 2026

Before the end of the opening period, the Canadiens would strike on the power play to put them within one goal heading into the 2nd period. It would be the notorious Sabres killer Nick Suzuki who would get the Habs on the board after Juraj Slafkovsky sent a cross-crease pass over and the captain made no mistake on the shot for his 2nd goal of the playoffs. It was s much needed goal that looked as if it would breath some life into the Habs and for a few minutes into the 2nd period it would do that.

Jordan Greenway gets snappy with it! 🫰 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/ztTcqyYUPq

— NHL (@NHL) May 7, 2026

Unfortunately, Dobes would get beaten by a shot over the glove that he has stopped so many times during the 1st Round series as Jordan Greenway would make it a 3-1 game with a bit of a changeup shot. If there was one goal that Dobes would have wanted back it would have been this one as it was definitely one he should have been able to save. There was bit of a screen in the middle of the slot but it wasn’t enough to truly prevent Dobes from seeing that puck.

Bowen Byram has his fourth of the playoffs as the Sabres’ power play stays hot in Game 1 💪 pic.twitter.com/PeANMyx6RK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 7, 2026

A little later on, the Sabres would get yet another goal on the man advantage. Defenseman Bowen Byram who has been scoring a lot in these playoffs would get his 4th of the post-season as he beat Dobes through traffic to make it a 4-1 game. The Habs defence should have boxed out Peyton Krebs in front of the net much better as he was essentially left untouched by Mike Matheson in front of the net for the goal.   It was again not the hardest shot, but given the screen in front it was definitely much harder for Dobes to see and therefore, he is really only at blame for the 3rd goal despite having allowed 4 goals on 9 shots at that point of the game. Even though he was having a tough night, St. Louis kept him in nets the rest of the way as he would stop the final 7 shots he faced in the loss. Hopefully, he can put this one behind him and get back to the goalie who made miraculous saves down the stretch of the Habs series in Round 1.

HOW DID DACH PUT THIS IN! 🤯

The Habs cut the lead to two after an incredible effort from Kirby Dach!

(🎥: @NHL_On_TNT) pic.twitter.com/rPHTQla4aI

— BarDown (@BarDown) May 7, 2026

Once again the Canadiens would get a late period goal thanks to Kirby Dach knocking his own rebound out of the air and in as he was falling to the ice from driving towards the net. It was a great hand-eye coordination goal as Dach continues to be an impressive player in the playoffs for the Habs. Unfortunately, his goal would wind up being too little too late.

While, the Habs did dominate the shots in the 3rd period, the Sabres did a great job at preventing them from getting many prime scoring chances by keeping the players to the outside. It made goaltender Alex Lyon’s night much easier. The defence for the Sabres and Habs made a huge difference in this game, as while the Sabres flourished, the Canadiens had a tough night, making it harder for their goaltender. As a result, the Habs are now down 1-0 in the series after their first truly tough night.

#Habs Martin St. Louis thoughts on game #1 vs #Sabres

“The start of the game didn’t help: we started with some bad luck, with Lane tripping on the boards. From there, you’re already chasing the game and finding yourself on the penalty kill, so it’s tough[…] However, I liked… pic.twitter.com/9iSkqRl1mk

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) May 7, 2026

For a young team like the Habs, this game will be a learning experience to overcome in Game 2 as they now know what it is like to need to get ready for the next series, and how they will need to avoid getting caught from just finishing an emotional series. The truth is with these experiences it will only get better for the Habs. With that being said, don’t be surprised if the Habs play much better in Game 2 on Friday night.