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It’s a busy night for Montreal sports fans as both of the city’s professional hockey teams prepare for high-stakes playoff matchups on home ice.
While the PWHL’s Victoire look to secure a spot in the Walter Cup finals at Place Bell, the Canadiens are aiming to tighten their grip on their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.
Here is what you need to know ahead of puck drop.
Victoire take on Frost in winner-take-all Game 5
The Victoire are scheduled to take on the Minnesota Frost at Laval’s Place Bell in Game 5 with a spot in the Walter Cup finals on the line.
The game was originally supposed to take place on Monday but was pushed back a day due to “player safety concerns related to illness,” according to the PWHL.
A league spokesperson said Tuesday that no new symptoms were identified since the postponement, and it appears the illness is isolated to the Victoire.
The league hasn’t specified the nature of the illness, other than to say the symptoms aren’t consistent with the hantavirus.
The Frost were on the ropes in Game 4 in Minnesota, trailing in the series 2-1, but Minnesota found a spark in the third period.
Defender Sidney Morin scored two goals, and the team added an empty netter to win 3-1. The two-time defending champions are now a perfect 5-0 in elimination games over the last three seasons.
The winner will face off against the Ottawa Charge, which already has a spot in the final.
Sidney Morin scores twice in Minnesota’s 3-1 victory over Montreal to even their Walter Cup semifinal series at 2-2. The deciding Game 5 will be on Monday in Laval, Que.
Habs look to push Sabres to edge
In Montreal, the Canadiens take on the Sabres with a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
After back-to-back losses, the Sabres are making a change in nets.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen re-took his spot in the starter’s net at morning skate, replacing Alex Lyon.
“I’m excited. This part of the year is all about winning,” Luukkonen said Tuesday. “I’m just excited to go back there and help the team win.”
Luukkonen began the playoffs as Buffalo’s No. 1 after closing the regular season with a 12-2-1 record, but he was replaced by Lyon during the first round against the Boston Bruins.
Lyon had stellar numbers against the Bruins but has given up nine goals on 63 shots in his past two starts, largely due to sloppy defending.
In other Sabres lineup moves, defenceman Luke Schenn appeared to be entering the lineup for Logan Stanley and forward Konsta Helenius was set to replace Sam Carrick for his NHL playoff debut, not that coach Lindy Ruff would confirm the changes.
No changes were expected from the Canadiens after consecutive convincing wins. Montreal had multiple opportunities to take a commanding lead in the first round against the Lightning, but never managed to move ahead by two games.
“We’re expecting their best game of the series so far. We’re expecting that,” coach Martin St. Louis said of the Sabres. “You have to be alert, and we have lots of things that we can be better at.”
CBC’s Kwabena Oduro asked Montreal Canadiens fans how they cope with stress when watching their team play live at the city’s iconic venue. Their stress-relief strategies range from nudging fellow fans to munching on popcorn.
