The Buffalo Sabres held a team meeting on May 11 following their 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3, which gave Montreal a 2-1 lead in the playoff series. The Sabres did not practice Monday and instead reviewed the previous night’s game before planning a morning skate ahead of Tuesday’s Game 4.
Alex Tuch said, “We had our meeting, we had to hear what our coach had to say about the game last night. We have to learn from it, but you’ve got to move on. You have to find a way to come out tomorrow and try to give them hell.” He also reflected on his own performance: “I don’t think we want to forget about that feeling last night. Me personally, I think that was definitely my worst defensive game of the playoffs, so I’m not gonna forget that feeling. But yeah, it’s only 2-1 in the series. We have to come out flying tomorrow.” Tuch added that mistakes were self-inflicted and emphasized getting back to successful habits: “Very much self inflicted. It’s all on our decisions and our will and our compete. We’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror and get back to the game we know we can play and the game that’s been successful for us.” As a team leader he said, “It’s work. For me, it’s moving my feet, it’s working, it’s holding onto pucks, it’s making it difficult for them to play offense. What I’ve done, what I was doing in the first round, I need to be better at that.”
Head coach Lindy Ruff addressed defensive issues: “If you look at Montreal’s first goal (Alex Newhook), we’ve got first touch on the puck – first touch is a big deal. The decision we made with first touch is what cost us a goal against… If we make the proper play there, we’re probably breaking out of the zone… So if we don’t handle that then for a second we can be out of position.” Ruff also commented on player performance: “That line on the whole needs to produce, and it hasn’t…. They’ve been in on some good opportunities… Particularly Jack has had a lot of opportunities he hasn’t finished; I think they’ve got to finish…. We threw some pucks in the middle of the ice which kind of fueled their breakouts. I’d like see that cleaned up.” On possible lineup changes he said: “We’re going dress lineup that we think is gonna be best possible chance win game.”
Zach Benson discussed how giving skilled opponents too much space led them away from their system: “We got away from our game too much last night…. They’ve got skilled players that you give them time and space they’re gonna make you pay so it’s just getting back system playing style hockey…. Making them play heels instead us playing heels.” Benson described ways players stay disciplined during heated games: “Everyone has different way staying even-keeled… Sometimes you’ve gotta take punch face or maybe don’t stop front net time… It’s little things you’ve gotta do stay out it.” He added about team mood: “We’re excited for tomorrow… Everyone knows didn’t play best last night… Get do again tomorrow.”
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m., broadcasted by ESPN.
