Tage Thompson says emotions got better of Sabres in Montreal - ESPN

Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson said his team was «too emotional» in its 6-2 loss to the Canadiens in Game 3 on Sunday night, and Montreal's raucous home crowd at Bell Centre played a big role in that.

«We gave them life,» said Thompson, who scored the game's opening goal only to watch Montreal score the next four to take a 2-1 series lead. «A couple plays we didn't execute on, they capitalized on them. Obviously, the building is pretty rocking, so it's a little deflating.

»I think we got a little too emotional tonight, too. We talk about it all the time: just staying even-keeled [through] highs and lows, just try to stay right in the middle. I thought we really let our emotions kind of get the better of us."

Thompson appeared to get the Sabres rolling on the road just 53 seconds into Game 3. He scored his first goal in eight games, a drought that began after Game 1 against the Boston Bruins in the opening round.

«We got the best start we could get to the game,» Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said.

But Montreal was undaunted, peppering Sabres goalie Alex Lyon (31 saves) with 15 shots in the opening period and getting a game-tying goal from Alex Newhook. The Canadiens took over the game in the second period with three straight goals. Cole Caufield started the run with a power-play goal for his first goal in six games and only his second in the playoffs after 51 regular-season goals, followed by forward Zack Bolduc and winger Juraj Slafkovsky (also on the power play).

Rasmus Dahlin scored at 14:46 of the second period to cut the lead to 4-2, but that was all the Sabres could muster.

«When it's time to defend on our zone, I feel the guys are very engaged and they work at it,» Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. «They take