Watch Sabres silences Canadiens fans with first strike in Game 4

The Buffalo Sabres were crushed in Games 2 and 3 against the Montreal Canadiens. Looking for its first trip to the Eastern Conference Final since 2007, Buffalo needed a big start to Game 4. Mattias Samuelsson gave that to them, scoring his third goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead.

The Sabres STRIKE FIRST in Game 4 to take an early 1-0 lead over the Canadiens pic.twitter.com/XKmQUxqJCR

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Sabres forward Josh Doan found Josh Norris streaking down the left side of the offensive zone. As the Canadiens’ defense closed in around him, Norris found Samuelsson, a defenseman, lurking on the back post. Samuelsson buried the goal, giving his club a 1-0 lead. They could not hold onto that lead, as Alex Newhook tied the game and Cole Caufield gave the Habs the lead before the first period was over.

Samuelsson is a career-long Sabre, playing 290 regular-season games before making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut this year. Buffalo drafted him in the second round of the 2018 draft before a successful career at Western Michigan University. He signed a seven-year extension worth $30 million with the Sabres before the 2023-24 season.

Samuelsson is not known as a goal scorer, potting just 20 goals in his regular-season career. But the playoffs have been very kind to his offensive game, as he scored twice against the Bruins. That includes the vital third goal in their Game 1 comeback against Boston.

The Sabres got the opening goal, which was key coming off the two big defeats. But they could not hold onto the lead, letting the Bell Centre crowd get right into the game. After losing Game 2 at home, the Sabres need to win at least one game on the road to advance to the next round.

Can Samuelsson and the Sabres come back to win Game 4? It would be vital to regain home-ice advantage and tie the series up again. A loss could be crushing for Buffalo’s chances.

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