Josh Doan Strikes Early as Sabres Draw First Blood Against Canadiens in East Finals Game 1

Buffalo just took control of this series with a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Josh Doan buried one at 4:31 of the opening frame, assisted by Zach Benson, and that's all the Sabres needed to grab Game 1 at KeyBank Center on May 6.

This is exactly the kind of start Buffalo wanted. The Sabres finished the regular season 50-23-9 with 109 points, sitting atop the East standings. The Canadiens came in at 48-24-10 with 106 points, and they're going to need to be sharper than this if they want to stay alive in this series.

Dobes Keeps It Close Despite the Barrage

Montreal's Jakub Dobes was tested early and often. The Canadiens' goalie faced 6 shots in the opening 10-plus minutes and gave up just the one goal. Dobes stopped a Jake Evans attempt and a Jack Quinn snap shot, keeping things from getting out of hand before the first period hit the midway point. His .667 save percentage in the early going could've been catastrophic if he wasn't sharp when it mattered.

On the other end, Alex Lyon was basically untouchable. The Sabres' netminder faced just 3 shots and turned them all away, posting a perfect 1.000 save percentage. That kind of goaltending is playoff hockey at its finest.

Road Woes Continue for Montreal

The Canadiens' road record this season was 24-9-8, solid stuff, but early signs suggest they're going to have to weather some adversity in Buffalo. With game control slipping and Doan's early strike setting the tone, Montreal's going to need to tighten things up quick or face an uphill climb in this series.

Game 2 rolls around on May 8, also on TNT and truTV/HBO Max. Buffalo's riding momentum and a home crowd that's ready to go. The Canadiens have no time to waste if they want to even this thing up.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.