Sabres' goaltending issues resurface in G5 loss
SkimNews Take
Despite a strong regular season, the Sabres' inability to consistently close out games with reliable goaltending in the playoffs highlights how much more important that position is in the postseason.
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- Buffalo Sabres lost 6‑3 to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5, falling behind 3‑2 in the series.
- Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen started, gave Buffalo a 3‑2 lead after the first period, then allowed three unanswered goals in the second, leaving the team down 5‑3.
- Alex Lyon replaced Luukkonen for the final 20 minutes but could not stop Montreal’s surge.
- Jakub Dobes rebounded after a leaky first period, making a key save on Tage Thompson that shifted momentum for Montreal.
- Martin St. Louis kept Dobes in net despite early struggles, rejecting a change to backup Jacob Fowler.
Why it matters: The Sabres drop to a 3‑2 series deficit, putting Montreal one win away from advancing while exposing Buffalo’s goaltending and defensive lapses that must be corrected to force a Game 7.