Canadiens’ Jake Evans ends brutal 19-game streak with Game 5 goal vs Sabres

The Montreal Canadiens faced a crucial game against the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. After the Sabres pulled off a win at the Bell Center in Game 4 to square the series at 2-2, Game 5 in Buffalo figured to be pivotal to the outcome of the series.

The game started in spectacular fashion as the two teams combined for five goals in the opening 10:15 of the first period. The early advantage went to the Sabres as Jason Zucker, Josh Doan and Konsta Helenius found the back of the net, offsetting goals by Cole Caufield and Alexandre Texier of the Habs.

However, the Canadiens did not let that early disadvantage slow them down. They found the scoring range in the second period and found a way to shut down the Sabres’ attack. Josh Anderson scored to tie it up at the 8:01 mark of the second period and then Jake Evans broke a long goalless streak when he scored for the first time in 19 postseason games. His quick move in tight beat Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with the go-ahead goal with less than four minutes remaining in the second period.

The Canadiens were not content with a one-goal advantage as Nick Suzuki scored on a power play a little more than a minute after the Evans goal.

The 3-0 Montreal scoring advantage in the second period quieted the boisterous Buffalo crowd. Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff pulled Luukkonen at the start of the third period and replaced him with Alex Lyon.

The Sabres fans grew even more disappointed when Montreal’s Ivan Demidov scored another man-advantage goal at the 3:32 mark of the third period. Buffalo earned a 6-3 triumph in the pivotal game and will try to close out the Sabres in Game 6 Saturday night at the Bell Center.

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