Montreal Grinds Past Buffalo and Keeps Its Cup Run Alive

Montreal does just enough to survive a tense battle with Buffalo and move one step closer to the NHL's final four. The margin is razor-thin, which is usually where the pressure starts to expose every little flaw in a playoff team. Buffalo pushes it hard, but Montreal finds the kind of late-game poise that front offices love and opposing coaches hate. The real test now is whether Montreal can carry that survival act into the next round without giving back all the energy it just spent.