Montreal Canadiens beat Sabres 6-2 in Game 3 to take 2-1 series lead
Posted May 10, 2026 10:04 pm.
Last Updated May 11, 2026 12:08 am.
Cole Caufield scored his second goal of the playoffs and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 in a dominant Game 3 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Alex Newhook had two goals, including an empty-netter, while Zachary Bolduc, Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach also scored for Montreal, the only Canadian team remaining in the post-season.
Lane Hutson and Jake Evans each provided two assists and Jakub Dobes made 26 saves as the Canadiens won consecutive games for the first time these playoffs.
Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin replied with a goal and an assist each for Buffalo, which dropped its first road game of the post-season. Alex Lyon stopped 31 shots in his second straight loss.
The teams split the first two games in Buffalo. The Sabres handed the Canadiens a 4-2 loss in Game 1 before Montreal responded with a 5-1 victory in Game 2.
Game 4 will take place back at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night.
Caufield ignites explosive second-period surge
Minutes after missing an open net, Caufield scored on the power play for his first goal in six games to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead 6:05 into the second to kick off a wild, four-goal period.
Hutson deked around a stick-less Jordan Greenway before laying a pass to the snake-bitten 51-goal scorer, who deposited the puck into the gaping net as the crowd erupted into a boisterous ovation.
The Canadiens appeared to gain a 3-1 lead one minute later when Josh Anderson’s backhand trickled through Lyon as Phillip Danault crashed the crease. The officials, however, ruled no goal as jeers rained on a night that featured several questionable calls.
Bolduc ultimately gave the Canadiens a two-goal advantage at 10:43 in the second after Joe Veleno hunted down a puck behind Sabres defenceman Logan Stanley and set him up.
Tempers flare as Montreal takes control
Chaos ensued two minutes later when Beck Malenstyn ran over Dobes, provoking a massive scrum and sending the Canadiens on a power play. Slafkovsky then made it 4-1 with a deflection on Hutson’s point shot as Montreal went 2-for-5 with the man advantage.
Dahlin cut into the deficit with 5:14 left in the second period, calmly placing a shot off the far post and in to get one back heading into the intermission.
But Dach restored the three-goal lead at 8:46 in the third when he pulled a loose puck out from under Lyon and fired a shot into the open net.
The goal followed multiple key saves from Dobes, twice denying Zach Benson, as the Canadiens fended off a Sabres pushback that included a nervy penalty kill early in the period.
Newhook, who also scored twice in Game 2, added his second when he was hooked with a clear path to the empty net with 4:46 left in the third.
A city buzzing hours before puck drop
Large crowds packed the surrounding streets hours ahead of the game on a sunny afternoon, as the Canadiens added a third giant screen outside the building to meet the “incredible demand.”
Kirk Muller carried the ceremonial torch inside before puck drop of the Canadiens’ first second-round playoff game before a full Bell Centre since 2015.
Thompson wasted little time to — temporarily — quiet the crowd, opening the scoring 53 seconds in after Dahlin’s point shot deflected off the end boards and onto his stick. He ended a seven-game drought after going minus-4 with a costly turnover in Game 2, raising questions about whether he’s playing at full health.
Lyon, repeatedly taunted with “Ly-on!” chants, then denied chances from Nick Suzuki, Caufield and Veleno to keep the Sabres ahead until Newhook capitalized on a rebound at 15:31 of the first period.
Newhook sparked a run of four unanswered goals from the Canadiens, who gained a lead they would not squander.
‘Go Habs Go’ echoes through downtown Montreal
Outside the Bell Centre, thousands of fans flooded downtown Montreal celebrating another playoff victory as chants of “Go Habs Go” echoed through the streets late into the night.
Many supporters believed the Canadiens had taken control of the series.
“It was a very good game. Habs in five,” one fan said.
Another supporter screamed: “The Cup! We’re getting the Cup again!”
“I’m feeling good,” another fan shouted as cheers erupted around him.
“Amazing. Let’s go!” another supporter yelled.
“Incredible,” another fan added while making his way through the crowd.
“I think we’re going to win in six,” one supporter predicted confidently.
“That was a really good game,” another fan said.
Fans celebrate the atmosphere and emotion of playoff hockey
One fan wearing a Buffalo jersey lifted it up to reveal a Canadiens shirt underneath and shouted: “I love this team!”
Nearby, one woman blew kisses toward the crowd while celebrating Dobes’ performance.
“Dobes, my guy! Go Habs Go!” she yelled.
Another supporter soaked in the atmosphere outside the Bell Centre.
“It’s amazing here. The fans are amazing. It’s peak cinema over here,” he said. “I’m so happy with the win. What a game. Loving it so much.”
Another fan called it one of the most entertaining playoff games he had ever seen.
“One of the best games I’ve ever watched,” he said. “It was fascinating. Six goals. It was really fun. Let’s go!”
From lifelong fans to newcomers, Montreal embraces playoff fever
Another fan who attended the game inside the arena called it one of Montreal’s best performances of the season.
“It was incredible,” he said. “First period, I didn’t love. Second period, third period — absolutely ridiculous.”
Another supporter said the victory felt special for the city and its fans.
“We’re super happy to be in the playoffs, and to win this game is so good,” he said. “It’s special.”
He added that Montreal’s speed made the game especially entertaining.
“It was amazing. I think the Habs played a very good game,” he said. “It was fast-paced, exciting to watch and just great overall.”
“That was a huge game. That was crazy,” another supporter shouted.
One visitor from India said the atmosphere outside the Bell Centre amazed him.
“I love you, Canadiens,” he said.
Another fan praised Montreal’s response after Buffalo scored early in the game.
“I’m feeling awesome. Six-to-two, performed great,” he said. “Scary start, early Buffalo goal, nice recovery, but it’s the Habs. We’re going to back. We’re going to do it. Ready for Game 4.”
He added that despite recently moving to Montreal, he already felt swept up in the city’s hockey culture.
“I’m sad that I’m not wearing a Habs jersey,” he said. “The energy is amazing. It’s amazing. It’s a great city. It’s a hockey city. Red, white and blue everywhere. Great city. Go Habs Go.
“I just moved here a couple months ago. On the agenda is to learn French and, more importantly, get a Habs jersey and get ready for Game 4.”
