‘You could see this coming’: LeBrun on Demidov’s first multi-point game of playoffs

Here's our Hockey Insider Pierre Lebrun from inside Key Bank Centre where the Habs just dismantled the Sabres and took a 3 -2 series lead in their best -of -seven second round series.Pierre, we gotta start by talking about Jakob Dobisch.He allows three goals in the first four shots.This is sort of a two -parter for you, my friend.First of all, were you surprised Martin Saint -Louis kept him in after allowing those three goals on four shots?And secondly, what did you think of Dobisch's response?

Well, listen, never mind was I surprised, Jay.There are a couple of former NHL goalies in the press box that were surprised, told me at intermission that they thought he would get pulled.But, you know, Marty St. Louis explained after the game that they went up to the goalie coach, Marco Marciano, and said, what do you think?And he said, keep him in.And, you know, this I love the new age.coaching here of Martin St. Louis.

He says, I'm not a goalie expert.Yeah, ultimately it's his decision as head coach, but he wants to go to the guy who's the expert, which is his goalie coach.And, you know, listen, it was a huge decision early in that game and Dovis settled down and didn't give up another goal.And in particular, the, you know, the breakaway save that, uh, that he had on Tate Thompson, Marty St. Louis set out to the game that completely changed the game.And, and, you know, Dovis also set out to the game.I thanked our coach.

for letting me in.How often do you hear that from an NHL goalie?But he's such a great personality, and he knows.Like, he wasn't good enough early on.You know the other thing he said, Jay?He said, if there's a big lesson for me tonight, it's that I need to have better body language for my teammates when something like that happens.

He goes, that's one of the lessons you're going to take with me after tonight.So remember, this is a rookie goalie.He's learning on the job.And what he didn't like about himself is the way he looked.after that third goal, which was a brutal goal.But good on him.

He gets to stay in that, make the big save that changed the game, and he'll be chanting his name again.Saturday night at the Bell Center, Jay.

Boy, will they ever.And they'll be chanting Ivan Demidov's name too if he continues his fine play.First career playoff goal, came out firing, generated several chances.Just seemed like the way he was playing, Pierre, this was just inevitable, wasn't it?

Yeah he had some great A's last game too but didn't score so you could see this coming and I know the Canadians internally felt really good about his game and you know what they liked about it is that despite struggling offensively in these playoffs and boy we all know how tight checking the Tampa series was for all the offensive stars but Demidov didn't allow any cheat to get into his game, right?Sometimes when young offensive players are struggling offensively, they start to force plays.They start to cheat on the wrong side of the puck.They're not paying as much attention to the defensive side.That did not occur with this amazingly talented rookie.And it pays off, because the coaching staff still has trust in him.

You know, they still know that he won't hurt them, even though he's not scoring.And guess what happens on this night?I mean, that goal in the par play, I'm sorry, I don't know how many goalies in the NHL stopped that shot anyway, but he really should have scored two when Jake Evans got the push that one across the goal line.So yeah, a great night and listen.That bodes well for Montreal, because if they start getting more from him, and now already they're starting to get more of late from Caulfield and Suzuki, yeah, then the Canadians are starting to really cook with oil here in terms of their top six.

And Pierre, if you're a Buffalo Sabres fan, you might say to yourself, when am I going to get something from Thompson and Tuck, because Tage Thompson and Alex Tuck both held off the score sheet in game number five.Obviously, Lindy Ruff isn't going to take him out of the lineup for game six, but could you see Lindy making some lineup changes on Saturday here?

I mean, he hasn't been shy to do it as we've seen in this series, but boy, Tuck and Thompson.I mean, those two guys are struggling like beyond, you know, plus minus is an outdated statement.I understand that, Jay, but just for the purpose of this, I mean, Alex Tuck is minus eight in this series and isn't doing any scoring.Tate Thompson has two goals and two assists, but he's minus nine.And you know, Thompson took a bad penalty in this game, and it led to a power play goal from Nick Suzuki just 10 seconds later.But boy, this is alarming for them, because these guys have carried the mail for so much of the year.

Thompson has that clear breakaway, and Dovis makes that save.That's the ball game.That's when the entire game changed.Thompson could have broken that game open.The building was rocking at that point, because early in the second, the Sabres had all the momentum.But he doesn't score on Dovis there, and everything changes after that.

And of course, the Thompson penalty.And listen, Alex Tuck, there's a lot on the line here for him, Jay.He's the number one UFA on the board here on July 1st if he goes to market.If you're the Buffalo Sabres GM Yarmulke Kalanen and you see Tuck's performance in this series, does it give you pause?I mean, you're talking about a player that wants double digits for his next salary, which by the way, the numbers suggest are the regular season he deserves.But does it give you pause that that's where that money should go if you're the Buffalo Sabres?

So a lot to think about here if the Sabres don't come back here and win this series.And certainly nothing decided quite yet on that front.

Okay, food for thought.The Montreal Canadiens, a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals Saturday night at the Bell Centre.Pierre, I know you're going to be there and you're going to have the best time.Enjoy it, my friend.Thanks for joining us on the show.

Merci beaucoup.