Canadiens’ Alex Newhook reacts to clutch Game 2 performance vs. Sabres

Led by a two-goal performance from Alex Newhook, the Montreal Canadiens bounced back in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round with a 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, tying the series at 1-1.

Newhook opened the scoring quickly, with Montreal taking a 1-0 lead just 96 seconds into the game after the opening face-off. He struck again at 4:47 of the second period, finishing with his second goal of the night as the Canadiens built a 3-0 lead they never surrendered. His first goal also came early in the sequence of play at 1:36 following a Buffalo turnover in their zone, where he slipped a shot past Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon. Newhook now has three goals in nine postseason appearances, with all three coming over his last three games.

“I think, as a group, we needed big effort tonight,” Newhook said following the victory. “You know, bounce back. Bounce forward game.

“And yeah, when you get the lineup read, you just try to supply some energy there early and just try to carry that into the game. And I think throughout the lineup … I think we were able to roll through our lines and deliver a pretty solid effort.

“It was a pretty big game here in Game 2.”

Montreal’s offense also featured goals from Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, and Nick Suzuki (empty-net), while rookie goalie Jakub Dobes made 27 saves. The Canadiens had dropped Game 1 by a 4-2 score but continue a postseason trend of alternating wins and losses, and they have not lost consecutive games since March 14-15 against the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks. Newhook had previously scored the series-clinching goal in Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Buffalo’s lone goal came from Zach Benson, while Alex Lyon allowed four goals on 27 shots. The Sabres went 0-for-5 on the power play in Game 2 and have converted just 3 of 32 opportunities this postseason.

The series now shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Sunday, with the Canadiens holding home-ice advantage in a best-of-five setup.

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