Canadiens fall to Sabres 8-3 in Game 6 as series shifts to decisive Game 7
Posted May 16, 2026 7:32 pm.
Last Updated May 17, 2026 12:43 am.
What began as a celebration inside the Bell Centre ended in disbelief Saturday night.
The Montreal Canadiens watched a two-goal first-period lead disappear as the Buffalo Sabres erupted for seven unanswered goals in an 8-3 victory to force a decisive Game 7 in their second-round playoff series.
Buffalo’s comeback silenced a crowd that had spent hours turning downtown Montreal into a sea of red, white and blue in anticipation of a potential series-clinching night.
Instead, the series will return to Buffalo tied 3-3, with Game 7 scheduled for Monday night at KeyBank Center. The winner will advance to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
Dahlin, Thompson power Buffalo comeback
Rasmus Dahlin led Buffalo’s offensive surge with a goal and four assists, while Tage Thompson recorded a goal and three assists. Jack Quinn scored twice and added an assist as the Sabres overwhelmed Montreal after falling behind early.
Zach Benson and Jason Zucker each finished with a goal and an assist, while Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also scored.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen played a pivotal role in the comeback after replacing Alex Lyon midway through the opening period. Lyon surrendered three goals on four shots before being pulled, while Luukkonen stopped all 17 shots he faced in relief.
At the other end, Jakub Dobeš allowed six goals on 33 shots before being replaced by Jacob Fowler with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Fowler stopped one of the two shots he faced in his NHL playoff debut.
Bell Centre erupts early
The atmosphere outside the Bell Centre had been building throughout the day.
Thousands of Canadiens supporters flooded the streets surrounding the arena hours before puck drop, waving flags and chanting “Olé, Olé, Olé” as Montreal prepared for its biggest home playoff game in years. Police urged fans earlier in the day not to use pyrotechnics amid concerns over large crowds gathering downtown.
Inside the arena, Canadiens legend Larry Robinson raised the ceremonial torch before the first Saturday night playoff game before a full Bell Centre crowd since 2015.
Buffalo quieted the building quickly.
Dahlin opened the scoring just 32 seconds into the game after capitalizing on a turnover by Juraj Slafkovský before beating Dobeš on the backhand.
The Canadiens responded immediately.
Arber Xhekaj tied the game moments later with his first goal in 49 games and first career NHL playoff goal after Jake Evans won a clean faceoff in the Buffalo zone.
ARBER XHEKAJ ????️????️????️
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2026
WE'RE TIED ???? pic.twitter.com/85pW0ulJJF
Ivan Demidov then gave Montreal a 2-1 lead on the power play with a one-timer past Lyon before Evans added a short-handed goal minutes later to push the Canadiens ahead 3-1.
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— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2026
HABS LEAD IN GAME 6! pic.twitter.com/wNa6QtfKRH
JAKE EVANS SCORES A SHORTY AND MONTREAL IS AN ELECTRIC FACTORY RIGHT NOW ???????????? pic.twitter.com/fCTmfNZdTr
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2026
The Bell Centre roared as Lyon was pulled after allowing three goals on four shots.
Sabres take over after first period
Buffalo began shifting momentum late in the opening frame when Jason Zucker redirected a Josh Norris pass on the power play to cut Montreal’s lead to 3-2.
The Sabres never looked back.
Just over a minute into the second period, Bowen Byram’s point shot slipped through Dobeš before Zach Benson buried the loose puck to tie the game.
Quinn gave Buffalo its first lead since the opening minute midway through the second on another power play opportunity before Helenius finished a two-on-one rush only minutes later to make it 5-3.
Montreal struggled to recover as Buffalo’s speed and puck movement began controlling play through the neutral zone and on special teams.
Quinn added his second goal of the game early in the third period on Buffalo’s fourth power play marker of the night, ending Dobeš’ evening.
Thompson later added an empty-net goal from inside Buffalo’s zone after Montreal pulled Fowler for an extra attacker before Metsa capped the scoring late in regulation.
Fans leave disappointed but hopeful
As fans poured out of the Bell Centre following the loss, frustration mixed with optimism ahead of Game 7.
“We started with a good 3-1 lead, but now it’s just disappointing,” one fan said outside the arena. “We wish for the best for Game 7.”
Others remained confident Montreal would respond on the road.
“We’re winning it. We’re going to destroy them in Game 7,” another supporter said.
Another fan predicted a bounce-back performance from the Canadiens’ young stars.
“I’m pretty sure that in Game 7, we’re going to win something around like 4-2,” he said. “I’m confident in my Canadiens and Lane Hutson. I don’t care. We’re going to the final this year.”
One fan leaving the Bell Centre said she still believes Montreal can reach the Stanley Cup Final.
“I still have hope for the team,” she said. “I think we can do it. I think we’re going to make it to the finals.”
Another supporter called the defeat painful but far from season-ending.
“It’s a tough loss, but the series is not over,” he said. “We got it next game…Montreal in 7.”
One fan who travelled from Atlanta for the game said the atmosphere still made the trip worthwhile despite the result.
“I’m a little sad, actually,” he said. “It was amazingly exciting hockey, but it didn’t work out. So we need to get good in Buffalo.”
With the season on the line, Monday’s Game 7 is set for 7:30 p.m.
