The Buffalo Sabres are expected to follow an unconventional plan amid their preparation for their upcoming Game 7 clash against the Montreal Canadiens.

The sides' head coach, Lindy Ruff, admitted that the team has had better luck traveling rather than playing at their own rink so far. As a result, Ruff stated that the team is considering ways of making the next two days seem like the experience they have while playing away from home.

The Sabres HC also disclosed that the chances of not holding a practice before Game 7 were about "90 percent," which is similar to the approach they took for Game 6. These moves stem from Ruff's belief that not practicing or skating in such a situation "eases the pressure."

The 66-year-old also said the Sabres were in an uncertain state and used the phrase “JFG” in a recent film session to boost the players' morale. All in all, he wants his side to take the ice with aggression instead of passiveness and is doing whatever he feels necessary.

Well, while most other coaches believe in fine-tuning various aspects of the team with practice sessions before a crucial game, Ruff's approach appears to be a pretty unconventional one. However, given the years of experience he has, it might turn out to be a game-changer.

The results of the Sabres' last game also testify that the effectiveness of Ruff's uncanny preparation methods cannot be ignored.

The Buffalo Sabres pull off a victory under pressure in Game 6

The Sabres forced the decisive game with an 8-3 win against Montreal in Game 6 of the series at the Bell Centre. The Habs stood at 3-1 at the midway point of the first period, but the Sabres came back into the game strongly by scoring seven unanswered goals to win the match.

Rasmus Dahlin scored once and contributed four assists, while Tage Thompson scored once and made three assists. Two goals were scored by Jack Quinn, along with Zach Benson, Jason Zucker, Konsta Helenius, and Zach Metsa.

Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen also became a steady player for the team after replacing Alex Lyon and saving almost every shot on goal he faced throughout the game.

There were some shifts of the control in the game, with the Canadiens dominating the situation after Arber Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov, and Jake Evans scored three consecutive goals and established a two-goal lead. But Ruff's side eventually enjoyed the last laugh.

The Sabres dealt with the pressure of elimination better in Game 6 than in the previous games of the series, which is why they will be playing Game 7 on May 18.

So, while the scores are leveled at 3-3, do you think Ruff's unconventional preparation method will eventually help the Sabres secure a victory and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals?

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Souvik Roy