How much closer can you get to the Eastern Conference final than pushing Game 7 of the second round to the overtime period?
A shocking outcome for the Sabres, who end a terrific year with heartbreak. Maybe the Hurricanes would have swept them like they have the rest of the Eastern Conference, but Buffalo looked like the better team for most of regulation and earned a 39-25 lead in shots on goal. The Sabres seemed to have the Canadiens on the ropes in the second and third periods, even when Montreal had the lead.
But all it takes in sudden death is one goal, and Montreal’s Alex Newhook ended the series and Buffalo’s season in one devastating shot.
