Konsta Helenius’ poised NHL playoff debut proves the Sabres’ future is now

Konsta Helenius, who turned 20 one day before the game, made his NHL playoff debut for the Buffalo Sabres in Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday in Montreal, with Buffalo trailing the series 2-1. The young center, who was playing in the AHL playoffs just a year ago, was inserted into the lineup on short notice and faced a high-pressure environment at Bell Centre. Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobeš denied Helenius on a two-on-one chance late in the game, highlighting the competitive nature of the second-round matchup.