Sabres falter against Canadiens in playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres are struggling in their playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, having lost the last two games after winning the first. The Sabres' defensive issues have been glaring, particularly their inability to protect the inner slot, as highlighted by Mike Kelly of NHL Network, who noted that Montreal averaged nearly 50 slot drives per game in the last two contests.

Alex Tuch, a key forward for Buffalo, has been ineffective, going scoreless and posting a minus-six rating over three games, despite averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time. This lack of production and defensive collapse raises serious questions about the Sabres' ability to compete in the series and their overall postseason ambitions.

Head coach Lindy Ruff may need to consider shaking up the defensive pairs to address these issues and reignite the team’s performance ahead of Game 4 against the Canadiens. The Sabres enjoyed a strong regular season but are facing a harsh reality check against a resurgent Montreal team.