One of Sabres' biggest blown calls ever affects Beck Malenstyn

The Sabres did not lose only because of one call. That would be too easy.

But this was the swing play: Malenstyn found a loose puck at the Montreal crease, pushed it toward the line, and watched the referee stop the sequence before Buffalo could cash it.

A counted goal would have put the Sabres ahead 3-2 at KeyBank Center. Instead, Montreal survived long enough for Alex Newhook to finish a 3-2 overtime win.

That is why this one lands differently. It was not a judgment call 80 feet away from danger. It was a loose puck in the crease, in an elimination game, with the series sitting on the blade.

The puck sat uncovered near Jakub Dobes' pad, Malenstyn jabbed at it, and the whistle arrived before Buffalo's pressure could turn into the lead.

Ruff's problem now is the locker room math. Buffalo put 39 shots on Dobes, forced Montreal into survival mode, and still walked out with nothing.

Dobes deserves credit too. He stopped 37 shots and gave Martin St-Louis the one thing every road team needs in Game 7: time to escape.

Malenstyn's box score still showed 1 assist, but that does not capture the real damage. A fourth-line winger did exactly what depth players are paid to do in May.

He went to the hard ice. He found the puck first. He made Montreal defend inside the paint.

For St-Louis, this becomes another playoff pressure point his group absorbed. Montreal was outshot, pushed back, and still moved on because its goaltender and its bench never cracked.

For Buffalo, this is the kind of exit that does not fade by training camp. Ruff can sell progress, but the Sabres will remember the whistle before they remember the season.

Also read on House Of Hockey :
Buffalo Sabres take a risky Game 7 bet that could come with a punishment