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Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) and Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) have words during the third period in Game 1 of a second-round Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday in Buffalo.
\nAP photo<\/p>\n
ANAHEIM, Calif. \u2014 The Stanley Cup playoffs can change a team. The high stakes and the frenzied crowds annually inspire hockey players who can handle them to ever-higher levels of grit, guile and greatness.<\/p>\n
The Anaheim Ducks are the latest young team growing and thriving under the weight of its first taste of postseason pressure.<\/p>\n
Although they ended their franchise\u2019s seven-year playoff drought, the Ducks were not a good defensive team during the regular season, too often settling for indifferent backchecking and mediocre goaltending that frequently didn\u2019t hurt them because of their offensive excellence. Anaheim allowed the fourth-most goals in the NHL, easily the most given up by any playoff team, before surrendering 21 goals to similarly wide-open Edmonton in the first round.<\/p>\n
But when the Ducks had to protect a 2-0 lead over the playoff-tested Vegas Golden Knights with less than seven minutes left in Game 2 of the second round Wednesday night, they showed how much the postseason means.<\/p>\n
During one frantic goalmouth scramble, three penalty-killing Ducks dived to the ice to block multiple shots \u2014 Mikael Granlund even made one block with an outstretched toe \u2014 while goalie Lukas Dostal went side to side with extraordinary desperation, jokingly saying he was \u201cplaying more soccer goalie than hockey goalie out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The extra playoff exertion was palpable, and their teammates on the bench leaped to their feet in excitement. Anaheim hung on for a 3-1 win, evening the series and adding another layer of experiential bedrock to the foundation of a young team that intends to be in Stanley Cup contention for years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of us are going through it together for the first time \u2026 and the whole experience is just bringing us closer together,\u201d Ducks forward Troy Terry said Thursday. \u201cI think what you\u2019re seeing, we can feel in our room, just how much we\u2019re coming together at this time of year. Whether it\u2019s a blocked shot, a goal, whatever it is, you can feel the closeness. All of us have just been so hungry for this opportunity. <\/p>\n
We were all well aware of what it would take to be successful in the playoffs, but you never really know until you get in these positions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The playoffs resume today with the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Buffalo Sabres before Anaheim hosts Vegas in Game 3.<\/p>\n
Much of the Golden Knights\u2019 core has been together for years, building the camaraderie and accountability necessary to give its best effort in the postseason.<\/p>\n
This is all new to the Ducks, and they\u2019re embracing it. Anaheim has allowed only four goals in two games by Vegas, and they include an empty-netter in Game 1 and a meaningless power-play goal with 5.6 seconds left in Game 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know this team had some growing pains we had to go through, but all year long we said, \u2018I just can\u2019t wait to get to the playoffs so we can see just how good these guys can be,’\u201d coach Joel Quenneville said. \u201cAcross the board, I would have to say for sure we\u2019re playing the best hockey we\u2019ve shown all year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anaheim went 3-0 at Honda Center in the first round against the Oilers. Orange County fans haven\u2019t seen hockey in May since 2017, when the Ducks made the Western Conference finals.<\/p>\n
CANADIENS AT SABRES<\/p>\n
When\/Where to Watch: Game 2, Today, 7 p.m. EDT (TNT, HBO MAX).<\/p>\n
Despite some lapses, the Buffalo Sabres played to their speedy, up-tempo attacking identity in winning Game 1 against Montreal.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the Canadiens\u2019 turn to rediscover their identity while adapting to a different-styled foe following a 4-2 loss on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
However resilient and capable Montreal was in the first round while grinding out a seven-game win over the slower, heavier and tight-checking Tampa Bay Lightning, the Canadiens need to switch gears against Buffalo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t say that I learned anything yesterday, but I will tell you that I know we can play with them,\u201d Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. \u201cWe\u2019re just going to have to do some things a bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n
A better start would help, as the Sabres built a 2-0 lead in the first period. Although Montreal outshot Buffalo 11-1 in the third period, most of them came from the perimeter.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, the outcome \u2014 from the Canadiens\u2019 perspective \u2014 was decided on a few unfortunate breaks.<\/p>\n
Defenseman Lane Hutson fell and coughed up the puck in a turnover that led to Buffalo\u2019s opening goal. Mike Matheson\u2019s clearing attempt was then batted down by Buffalo\u2019s Ryan McLeod, setting up Bowen Byram\u2019s goal that made it 4-1 midway through the second period.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit different, but we know what to expect now,\u201d forward Cole Caufield said in comparing Tampa and Buffalo.<\/p>\n
After scoring a team-leading 51 goals in the regular season, Caufield placed the emphasis on himself to regain his touch amid a four-game point drought.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a whole, not where I want it to be. I expect more out of myself, and my teammates do too,\u201d he said. \u201cJust trying to get better every game and just trying to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montreal has yet to win or lose two straight this postseason, and it\u2019s coming off a series against Tampa Bay in which all seven games were decided by one goal \u2014 including four in regulation.<\/p>\n
The Sabres also believe they can be better following an outing in which they were limited to a playoff-low 16 shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of our puck decisions, I thought, weren\u2019t up to the level that we had,\u201d coach Lindy Ruff said, noting a four-day break between games might have played a factor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate to say rust \u2014 but you haven\u2019t been up and running, your game tempo isn\u2019t quite there,\u201d he added. \u201cSome of our puck decisions led to opportunities, what I call giving up free offense. It wasn\u2019t from lack of effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
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