Canadiens’ Mike Matheson earns ‘respect’ by protcting Sabres’ Zach Benson in a brawl
The Montreal Canadiens tied their second-round NHL playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres with a commanding 5-1 win in Game 2 on Friday night. However, one of the game’s most discussed moments had little to do with the scoreboard. Late in the second period, Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson drew widespread praise after protecting Buffalo forward Zach Benson during a dangerous scramble.
Benson fell near the Montreal net during a heated scrum, and Matheson quickly noticed Tyson Kozak’s skate clipping near Benson’s helmet amid heavy traffic. Instead of engaging physically, Matheson covered Benson with his body and shielded his head from incoming skates until the play settled down. MORE: Canadiens’ Alex Newhook critiqued after scoring twice in Game 2 win The sequence immediately spread across social media, where fans applauded the veteran defenseman’s awareness and composure in a high-pressure playoff environment.
“Love this. Major respect bump for Matheson in my books,” one fan wrote on X . A fan said , “Yup, noticed that right away.
Thought Bieksa was going to say something at intermission. Matheson showed respect for the game, something MacAvoy, Tkachuk, and the like are lacking. ” Another fan added , “Sabres fan here.
That was all class, and I was impressed. We’ve got a series on our hands, can’t wait for Sunday! ” “This is why Mike Matheson is indispensable and why his contract will age well even as he becomes a third pair D,” A fan reacted .