Following their 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal, the Montreal Canadiens have since rattled off two straight victories, including Sunday evening’s 6-2 blowout win in front of over 21,000 roaring fans at Bell Centre in downtown Montreal.
The Canadiens, who beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games in the course of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, have now taken a two games to at least one series lead over the Sabres.
And as is the case during lopsided scores in hockey games, there was some score-settling on the ice with a pair of tough customers involving Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj and Buffalo’s Beck Malenstyn. And now, each players are just a little lighter within the wallet due to a pair of separate rulings from the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety.
“Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj has been fined $3,385.42, the utmost allowable under the CBA, for roughing Buffalo’s Sam Carrick,” the DPS wrote on X, formerly often known as Twitter.
And the second ruling:
“Buffalo’s Beck Malenstyn has been fined $3,515.63, the utmost allowable under the CBA, for goalie interference against Montreal’s Jakub Dobes,” the DPS wrote.
The cash, as all the time, will go to the Player’s Emergency Fund.
While it was an excellent start for the Sabres due to an early first period goal from Tage Thompson, Montreal would rating the subsequent 4, taking a 4-1 lead. The Sabres managed to chop Montreal’s lead in half before they once more took control with a pair of third period goals.
Game 4 between the Sabres and Canadiens will happen on Tuesday evening before the series returns to Buffalo for Game 5 on Thursday.
Following their 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal, the Montreal Canadiens have since rattled off two straight victories, including Sunday evening’s 6-2 blowout win in front of over 21,000 roaring fans at Bell Centre in downtown Montreal.