Sabres Beat Canadiens 4-2 in Game 1; Stars Slump

BUFFALO, N.Y. The Montreal Canadiens dropped a 4-2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series on Wednesday, putting pressure on slumping stars Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson to rebound ahead of Friday's Game 2 at KeyBank Center.

Caufield, who led the NHL with 51 regular-season goals as the first Canadiens player to reach 50 in 36 years, has managed just one playoff goal over eight games, all on the power play. He registered only 14 shots through the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Game 1, a sharp drop from his 258 shots in 81 regular-season contests. The top line of Caufield, captain Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky has produced one even-strength goal and one even-strength point combined in the postseason, despite their regular-season dominance. Montreal's power play has scored six goals, third-most among remaining teams, but the club ties Carolina for fewest 5-on-5 goals at 12.

"As a whole, probably not where I want it to be," Caufield said Thursday after an optional practice. "I expect more out of myself, and my teammates do too." He added that his confidence remains intact: "You can't lack confidence in this...