Canadiens can take control of series vs. Sabres with third straight win Tuesday

As the youngest team in the playoffs, there are stages the Canadiens have to pass as they continue to evolve.

First they must learn what it takes to win. This team has done that. Now it needs to take the next step and take advantage when it has its opponent on the ropes and not let Buffalo back in the series.

The Sabres appear to be reeling in their best-of-seven series against the Canadiens. Montreal has won the last two games convincingly, defeating the Sabres 5-1 on the road last Friday before returning to the Bell Centre Sunday night and thumping the visitors 6-2 despite Buffalo scoring the opening goal in the game’s first minute.

Canadiens Alex Newhook, left, congratulates goalie Jakub Dobes, joined by Jake Evans, Josh Anderson and Alex Carrier after winning Game 3 Sunday night at the Bell Centre. John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette

With another win on home ice Tuesday night (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM), the Canadiens can take a commanding 3-1 lead, moving to within one victory of a date with Carolina in the Eastern Conference final.

“It’s the biggest game for them,” defenceman Kaiden Guhle said Monday, following an optional practice at the Bell Centre. “They don’t want to go down 3-1. I think we just have to keep playing our game. Don’t overthink it too much. Not that we were nervous (before), but we might have been playing on our heels a little bit. We’ve got to play on our toes, keep bringing it to them and keep playing our game. We’ll be just fine.”

While the Canadiens overcame the more-experienced Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, it wasn’t easy. Every game was decided by one goal. Four went into overtime and Montreal had to win three on the road to advance.

Twice during that series the Canadiens could have assumed control and eliminated the Lightning. Montreal had a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 at home, but lost 3-2. And the Canadiens could have clinched the series, again on home ice, in Game 6 — only to lose 1-0 in overtime.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis is confident his team learned from its earlier travails, and has gained the necessary experience and maturity to take the next step. St. Louis understands it won’t be easy for his young team — especially coming off an emotional win Sunday.

“It’s hard. Especially in today’s game,” St. Louis admitted. “If the guys are on their phones a lot there’s so much, either way, that’s being talked about that can affect emotionally the way you are. To me, if anything, it’s to block the noise. I feel like it’s not an easy thing in today’s society. It’s a challenge. We talk about that with the guys all the time. That mentality … you’ve got to restart every day. It helps our group to stay even-keel.

“We’re attacking each game with truth. Take the scoreboard out of the equation. That’s one way to help you stay even-keel. Every morning we come back and the scoreboard is not part of the equation. Multiple things are going to have to happen. You’re going to have to put your best foot forward, with no guarantee. Doing the things that the game’s asking. I think we’re equipped to do that. Being alert while understanding that’s a really good team on the other side. It’s a hard task but I think we can do it.”

While the Canadiens have a 6-4 record this post-season, the Buffalo series has taken on a different feel. While the Sabres are a young, fast-skating team — like Montreal — Buffalo has been held to three goals the last two games and is struggling to solve goalie Jakub Dobes and the Canadiens’ defensive system.

“After the first game we kind of had a sense of the way they play,” defenceman Noah Dobson said. “And we had success. They’re a high-scoring team. If you give them time in space they will make plays. Be aware of that and try to take away their time in space.”

Offensively, the Canadiens have depth and are producing throughout their lineup. Twelve players have scored at least one goal. While Nick Suzuki, who centres the first line, has three goals and six assists through 10 games, the Canadiens have continued winning despite Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky being mostly absent offensively.

While both players scored on Sunday, Caufield has been held to two goals. Slafkovsky’s goal — his fourth of the playoffs — was the first he produced since Game 1 against Tampa Bay.

“I knew (Caufield) was going to score at some point,” Slafkovsky said Sunday. “We all trusted him. You don’t score 50 goals by accident. It was just a matter of time. It gives him more confidence and our line more confidence.”

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