Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn ImagesThe Montreal Canadiens (4-4) will face the Buffalo Sabres (5-2) in game 2 of their second-round series on Friday, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET. The Habs dropped Game 1, though the 4-2 scoreline was a little flattering to the host Sabres, a team that scored four goals on its first nine shots. That’s not to say they did not deserve to win the game, but there were a few key factors to suggest Montreal may end up having a better fate in Game 2.
The first line, in particular, had an encouraging game, which is important, as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky have had a very hard time making an impact at 5v5. And as we all know, a team without a functional first line is barely a team at all, especially in the playoffs. With that in mind, we shouldn’t discount Suzuki’s impact, as he is currently leading the Canadiens in scoring with seven points in eight games.
Montreal also received important and regular offensive contributions from their depth players, a recurring theme in April and May This was certainly not the case throughout the majority of the regular season, but fans certainly won’t look a gift horse in the mouth at this point in the schedule Players such as Kirby Dach, Alex Texier, and Josh Anderson have done a wonderful job supplementing the goal output, including Dach’s fantastic individual effort in Game Lineup ChangesThe Canadiens did not hold a practice on Friday, nor did they make their players available to the media.
Seeing as it’s the playoffs, any lineup changes will have to be confirmed once the teams take to the ice for the pre-game warm-up. Head coach Martin St-Louis seemed reasonably satisfied with his team’s performance in Game 1, which suggests there will not be any wholesale changes heading into Game 2. However, don’t be surprised if he modifies his third pairing and fourth line, with Jayden Struble potentially taking over Arber Xhekaj’s spot, while Joe Veleno makes way for Brendan Gallagher.
Montreal Canadiens Projected LineupCole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj SlafkovskyAlex Newhook - Jake Evans - Ivan DemidovAlexandre Texier - Phillip Danault - josh AndersonZachary Bolduc - Kirby Dach – Joe VelenoMike Matheson - Alexandre CarrierKaiden Guhle - Lane HutsonArber Xhekaj - Noah DobsonJakub DobesJacob FowlerBuffalo Sabres Projected LineupPeyton Krebs - Tage Thompson - Alex TuchJason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack QuinnZach Benson - Josh Norris - Josh DoanJordan Greenway - Tyson Kozak - Beck MalenstynRasmus Dahlin - Mattias SamuelssonBowen Byram - Owen PowerLogan Stanley - Connor TimminsAlex LyonUkko-Pekka LuukkonenHow To Watch The Habs Vs. The SabresThe Montreal Canadiens versus the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, May 8, 2026, will be aired on CBC, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. An instant recap complete with highlights will be available on Sportsnaut as soon as the final whistle NHL Playoff AnalysisRelated Headlines
