The Sabres were one goal away − one goal! − from a trip to the NHL’s Eastern Conference Final and a matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes. A chance for Lindy Ruff to avenge one of the most bitter defeats of his career, Game 7 of the 2006 East final, when the Sabres couldn’t hold a 2-1 third-period lead and lost to Carolina, 4-2. Instead, it’s the Montreal Canadiens who are heading south. In one of those how-did-that-happen games that have happened far too often in Sabres history, the Habs got an overtime goal from Alex Newhook to beat Buffalo, 3-2, Monday night in Game 7 of their Stanley Cup second-round series.’