The Buffalo Sabres are preparing to try to maintain their season alive in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night — and they’re going to have key defenseman Owen Power available for the crucial contest.
The 2021 No. 1 overall draft selection left through the third period of a 6-3 defeat in Game 5 after falling hard into the boards feet-first. He was capable of return to the competition, playing two shifts in the ultimate six minutes, totalling a minute and 28 seconds.
Overall, the 23-year-old played a shade under 22 minutes, picking up an assist within the loss. Head coach Lindy Ruff said Power got here in on Friday to receive treatment.
“All I can offer is he said he’s feeling pretty good, higher than he thought he’d feel, in order that’s encouraging,” Ruff said on Friday, per The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn.
Ruff confirmed on Saturday that Power would play in his usual spot with Bowen Byram on the second pairing. That is a superb sign for the Sabres, as Power has been certainly one of the team’s most vital players throughout their postseason run.
It’s the primary time Buffalo is facing elimination within the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs; they beat the Boston Bruins in six games in Round 1, closing out the series at TD Garden.
The team has been excellent on the road, going 4-1. They won all three games in Beantown, and got the split in Montreal after winning Game 4 earlier this week.
The more essential query lineup-wise is who might be between the pipes for the do-or-die Game 6. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got the beginning in Game 5, but was replaced by Alex Lyon after two periods after giving up five goals on 23 shots.
It is a difficult decision for Ruff and the coaching staff, although Lyon has been the higher goaltender in these playoffs. He’s began seven games, managing a 2.25 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
Meanwhile, UPL has a 4.20 GAA and .851 SV%.
Whoever is between the pipes, he’ll should weather a raucous crowd on the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal. Puck is ready to drop on the primary elimination game of the series just past 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
The Buffalo Sabres are preparing to try to maintain their season alive in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night — and they’re going to have key defenseman Owen Power available for the crucial contest. The 2021 No.