| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| MTL | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
Canadiens, Second Round Game 3, beat Sabres 6–2 at Bell Centre on May 10, 2026.
In Game 3 of the Second Round, the Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Buffalo Sabres and emerged victorious with a convincing 6-2 win. With this result, the series record now stands at 2-1 in favor of the Canadiens, putting the Sabres under pressure to respond in the upcoming games.
The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the second period. After trailing 1-1 late in the first, the Canadiens quickly took control. Cole Caufield scored at 6:05 into the second, igniting a three-goal barrage within just under eight minutes. Zachary Bolduc and Juraj Slafkovsky added to the Sabres' woes, extending the Canadiens' lead to 4-1. Rasmus Dahlin's goal for the Sabres at 14:46 momentarily halted the Canadiens' surge, but it was too little to counter the Canadiens' explosion.
Alex Newhook emerged as a standout performer, scoring two goals and providing excellent offensive pressure throughout the game. Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky were crucial in the second period, contributing goals that propelled the Canadiens into a commanding position. The Montreal defense also played a key role, effectively containing the Sabres and forcing them into costly turnovers. Meanwhile, the Canadiens capitalized on their power plays, scoring two goals while the Sabres struggled even after having been awarded six opportunities with the man advantage.
On the Sabres' side, Tage Thompson opened the scoring early in the first period, setting an initial positive tone. However, Buffalo could not maintain momentum and fell victim to the Canadiens' offensive onslaught thereafter, managing only two goals against a resolute Canadiens' defense.
With the Canadiens now leading the series 2-1, the pressure mounts on the Sabres to regroup and find a way to level the series. The teams will face each other again in Game 4, where the Sabres must find a stronger response to shift the series in their favor. The outcome of this next matchup will be pivotal for both teams as they aim for the next round.
Canadiens won 6–2.
The final score was Sabres 2, Canadiens 6.
Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson.
Alex Newhook (2), Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach, Zachary Bolduc.
Alex Lyon made 31 saves on 36 shots (.861 save percentage).
Jakub Dobes made 26 saves on 28 shots (.929 save percentage).
At Bell Centre in Montréal, the Canadiens home rink.
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