The goaltending question now defines a series that was supposed to hinge on speed and structure. Alex Lyon, as Deadspin reported, has “caught fire” for the Sabres, a phrase that captures both his recent form and the volatility it introduces. Game 2 on Thursday in Buffalo offers the Canadiens a compressed window to solve a goaltender who, through the first contest, turned high-danger chances into routine saves. Lyon’s .945 save percentage across his last five starts — a sample that includes the series opener — represents a statistical outlier, one that Montreal’s coaching staff must counter with traffic and lateral movement rather than perimeter shots. The hazard for the Sabres: hot streaks in net, especially from a netminder without a deep playoff résumé, can cool as abruptly as they ignite. The tension lies in whether Lyon sustains this level long enough to force the Canadiens into structural overcorrections, or whether Game 2 reveals regression.