Overview
- Buffalo’s season ended Monday with a 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal on Alex Newhook’s goal at 11:22, sending the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final.
- After trailing 2-0 in the first period, the Sabres forced overtime on goals from Jordan Greenway in the second and Rasmus Dahlin in the third.
- Coach Lindy Ruff said the defeat “won’t define” a year that saw Buffalo win the Atlantic Division, snap a 14-year playoff drought, and earn its first series win since 2007.
- Players voiced the sting of the finish, with Tage Thompson calling it “tough,” Dahlin saying it “(freaking) sucks,” and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen adding “It sucks.”
- AP reporter John Wawrow reported that all signs point to Ruff returning by his own choice, and the front office must now address contracts for Zach Benson as a restricted free agent and Alex Tuch as an unrestricted free agent.