The Montreal Canadiens needed a fast response after dropping Game 1 of the NHL second-round series, and Alex Newhook delivered it within 96 seconds.
Newhook scored twice in Montreal’s 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, helping the Canadiens even their Eastern Conference series at 1-1 before the matchup shifts to the Bell Centre.
The 25-year-old winger opened the scoring by slipping behind coverage and redirecting a Kaiden Guhle pass past Alex Lyon just 1:36 into the first period. He struck again early in the second, finishing a Jake Evans feed seconds after Buffalo failed on the power play.
MORE: Macklin Celebrini omission ‘highway robbery’ after Hart Trophy finalists reveal
The performance gave Montreal the secondary scoring it desperately needed while stars Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky continue to search for offense. Caufield is now without a point in five straight games, while Slafkovsky has one assist in his last eight outings.
Still, Newhook’s night sparked debate away from the scoresheet.
Former NHL forward T.J. Oshie criticized Newhook’s solo celebration after the opening goal.
“Love Newhook going to the hard areas and getting rewarded. But… I cannot stand these kids scoring goals and then blatantly skating by their teammates to celebrate alone,” Oshie wrote. “If you go through 5 guys and score then go ahead and do your thing. Any other scenario give your teammates some love. Especially in playoffs!”
Replying to Oshie’s comments, Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne wrote, “Man, I could not agree more. Downright weird to me. And def not a Newhook thing, just a general thing.”
These comments tapped into a larger conversation about how young players are prioritising these moments.
Canadiens’ structure finally looked playoff-ready
What mattered more for Montreal was how complete its game looked after the early lead.
The Canadiens were far more organized defensively than in Game 1. Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes stopped 28 shots, but Montreal also cleaned up its neutral-zone coverage and managed Buffalo’s speed much better. The Sabres finished 0-for-5 on the power play after converting twice in the series opener.
Newhook’s impact extended beyond the goals. He led the pregame lineup read and brought visible energy to a team that looked flat earlier in the series. “I think as a group we knew we needed a big effort tonight, a bounce-back, a bounce-forward game,” Newhook said afterward. MORE: Oilers D-man Evan Bouchard ‘upset’ over Norris Trophy snub So, if you look at the broader picture, this was less about individual flair and more about role execution. Newhook attacked inside ice, won races, and punished Buffalo’s defensive mistakes. That is exactly what playoff depth forwards must do when top scorers cool off. The Canadiens now head home with momentum for Game 3.