Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram called the Bell Centre the loudest building he has ever played in after losing Game 3 to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Sabres had a rough time, as their opponents raced to a dominant 6-2 win and took a 2-1 series lead in the playoffs.

The night, however, was marked by emotion, as Canadiens fans turned the Bell Centre into a cauldron. An observation duly noted and felt by Sabres' Bowen Byram.

Reflecting on their loss, Byram acknowledged the raucous atmosphere created by the Canadiens' fans.

“It’s a fun building to come in and play in, obviously a passionate fan base, everyone knows that," he said, as reported by the Athletic. "Probably the loudest building I’ve ever been in.”

While noting the opposition, Byram also expressed the need to capitalize on the emotion as fuel.

“It’s a lot of fun, but you've got to use that to boost yourself,”  he adds.

And the Sabres seemed capable as well, taking an early lead before the wheels came off.

A familiar chorus of "Ole" chants echoed throughout the Bell Centre as the match unfolded. Such was the noise that players missed the offside whistle twice and kept up the momentum.

Byram wasn't alone in praising the atmosphere surrounding their loss. His teammate and goalie, Alex Lyon, also noted the crowd's feverish support during an electrifying night.

"For sure, a good atmosphere in here. But it’s no excuse for us," he told the Athletic.

With the momentum in the Canadiens' favor, Byram and his men could face another tough night on Tuesday. The Bell Centre is proving to be a factor, and the tie is stacked against the Sabres.

Byram, however, is no stranger to winning against the odds. The 24-year-old's heroics for the Colorado Avalanche in their Stanley Cup triumph in 2022 remain fresh in the memory.

Despite suffering an injury-riddled tenure, his defensive efforts pushed the Avalanche over the edge. The Buffalo Sabres will hope for a similar performance, having traded for him in 2024.

He was among the major contributing players in their Game 1 victory against the Canadiens.

Canadiens Take Control of the Bell Centre

The Buffalo Sabres got off to a quick start as Tage Thompson scored in just 53 seconds in the first round. However, the Canadiens remained undeterred and immediately took the lead. 

Alex Newhook scored twice, with Cole Caufield also chipping in with a goal. The Canadiens retained the momentum in the second period, scoring three goals and forcing the Sabres to make defensive mistakes and penalties. 

Zachary Bolduc, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Kirby Dach added to the scoresheet to cap off a strong performance. On the defensive end, goaltender Jakub Dobeš made 26 saves to keep the opposition at bay.

Among the Sabres, Rasmus Dahlin scored the team’s second goal while Alex Lyon made 31 saves.

Game 4 promises to be a fiery night, as the Canadiens continue their quest for a first Stanley Cup since 1993. Meanwhile, the Sabres will look to weather the storm a bit better and retake control of the series.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Sijo Paul