Buffalo has finally broken free from a record-setting 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought and now stands on the brink of achieving their next milestone.
If the Sabres can defeat Boston at home during Tuesday’s Game 5, they’ll advance to the second round for the first time since 2007.
“You can expect this to be the hardest game that we’re going to have to play short-term here, because they’re in the nothing-to-lose-and-everything-to-gain category,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, whose previous tenure with Buffalo lasted 15 years and included their most recent playoff run and series win — along with four conference finals appearances and one Stanley Cup finals appearance.
Boston, under first-year head coach Marco Sturm, is struggling after suffering a devastating 6-1 defeat on Sunday that put them in a 3-1 hole.
“They know that if they don’t put whatever they can put into the game,” Ruff said, “they’re done.”
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away across the Canadian border, another squad that has dramatically surpassed predictions finds itself close to advancing. Anaheim needs to close out their series on Edmonton’s home ice, but this fearless young roster is eager to deliver the organization’s first series win in nine years.
“We just believe in ourselves,” center Ryan Poehling said, discussing the overtime victory in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 advantage after trailing by two goals on Sunday. “We’ve done it all year, and I think it just teaches you throughout a season that you’re never out of it. The belief on the bench is something that you truly feel when you go out there for offensive play. It’s a great way to play hockey for us.”
In Dallas, Tuesday night will also feature a Game 5, though no championship celebration will occur after Minnesota tied their series on Saturday.
Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Series Standing: Sabres ahead 3-1
Boston lost their composure during their Game 4 collapse. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000 by the league on Monday for cross-checking Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman yelled at his own coaching staff as he left the ice after being removed from the contest.
“We have an extremely high competitive group. We all have a standard that we all carry ourselves to, and it wasn’t met. So that was just emotion,” Swayman told reporters. “It’s moved on now, and we have a job to do going into Buffalo.”
Buffalo is eager to hit the ice before an energized home crowd.
“When I came in last season, there was lots of talk of, ‘This is a hockey city, not a football city,’ and that was pretty hard to believe as an outsider coming in. You can see the passion for the Bills and just everything around that,” Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn said. “But then I think throughout this year, we’ve slowly grown to see just how supportive and passionate this fan base is.”
Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT (ESPN2)
Series Standing: Tied 2-2
This physical matchup between two strong clubs that finished second and third in the Western Conference during regular season play shows dramatically different results depending on player situations. Minnesota has controlled even-strength action, outscoring Dallas 10-3. However, Dallas’s power play has been unstoppable with eight goals in 19 chances, while their penalty kill has allowed just three scores in 19 situations.
While Dallas prepared Monday for another crucial contest, they showed confidence in their 5-on-5 play due to consistent shot production. They top all playoff teams this postseason with 141 shots on goal, including 102 at even strength, ranking fifth among playoff squads.
“We just have to take the next step and get some loose pucks, get some tips,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.
Just one Dallas player maintains a positive rating in even-strength play this series: defenseman Nils Lundqvist. However, he’ll miss Game 5 after accidentally taking a skate blade to the face during a Game 4 collision. Gulutzan expressed hope for Lundqvist’s return later in the series.
“Sometimes the puck goes in. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s hockey,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said.
Minnesota’s power play has clearly struggled without right wing Mats Zuccarello, who hasn’t appeared since sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 1, though his Monday practice participation offered hope.
“We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that,” coach John Hynes said. “But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Series Standing: Ducks ahead 3-1
As both clubs traveled back to Canada, hockey fans continued discussing the dramatic conclusion to Sunday night’s Game 4 and the unique process officials used to reach what appeared to be the accurate decision on Ryan Poehling’s narrow overtime winner for Anaheim.
However, that wild conclusion didn’t change this series’ overall direction: The attacking Ducks seem capable of overcoming any problems created by their inconsistent defensive performance, while Edmonton appears increasingly exhausted as they try to begin their fifth straight extended playoff campaign.
“We just believe in each other, and kind of no matter the score, we just continue to compete,” said Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who leads all Stanley Cup playoff scorers with eight points. “It’s something that’s been huge for us all year, and it’s something nice to have in your back pocket right now.”
Edmonton faces elimination after surrendering two leads in Game 4 despite strong play from new goaltender Tristan Jarry. Anaheim has completed more multi-goal rallies than any team this season under coach Joel Quenneville, who surpassed Al Arbour for second-most playoff coaching wins in NHL history during Game 4.
The Ducks have captured three consecutive games in this series, scoring 20 goals across four contests as they pursue their franchise’s first playoff series triumph since 2017. But this veteran Edmonton core has faced major postseason challenges before. They delivered their strongest defensive effort of the series on Sunday, so no visible panic exists as they work to force a Game 6 return to Southern California.
