Canadiens and Sabres wait on NHL after hit raises suspension question
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Joe Veleno left Martin St-Louis with a Game 7 problem after Bowen Byram's high hit went uncalled.
The play didn't just bruise Montreal's bench. It changed the temperature of the series.
Buffalo turned the missed call into a goal, flipped the second period, and dragged the Canadiens back into a Monday night road test nobody in that locker room wanted.
The Canadiens lost 8-3 at Bell Centre. The series is now tied 3-3.
The issue for St-Louis is bigger than one non-call. Veleno is a bottom-six center, but in playoff hockey, that role matters when matchups tighten and every shift starts feeling heavier.
Byram catches Veleno high through open ice, Veleno's head snaps sideways, and Buffalo attacks before Montreal can reset.
Player Safety now owns the next decision
As of Sunday, NHL Player Safety had not announced discipline for Byram. That silence matters because Game 7 is already sitting there, waiting.
The hit came at 7:03 of the second period. Buffalo scored moments later to take a 4-3 lead, and Montreal never recovered its structure.
This is where the league's standard gets tested. Not in October. Not in a quiet Tuesday game. In a series-deciding playoff spot with both benches watching.
St-Louis also has a usage problem. If Veleno isn't cleared, Montreal loses a trusted depth option and may have to stretch a thinner forward group on the road.
Rasmus Dahlin's five-point night gave Buffalo the scoreboard story. Byram's hit may give Game 7 its edge.
For Montreal, the response can't be about outrage alone. The Canadiens need cleaner exits, smarter bench discipline, and a first period that pulls the building back toward doubt.
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Nick Suzuki puts Canadiens on notice before Game 7 in Buffalo
Nick Suzuki puts Canadiens on notice before Game 7 in Buffalo