Sabres beat Montreal 4-2 in 2nd round playoff opener

May 7, 2026 - 02:49

The Buffalo Sabres drew first blood in their second-round playoff series, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on home ice Wednesday night. The win gives Buffalo an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven matchup, setting the stage for a crucial Game 2 on Friday night at the same venue.

The Sabres came out with high energy in the first period, capitalizing on early pressure to take a 2-0 lead before the midway point. Montreal responded with a power-play goal late in the period to cut the deficit in half, but Buffalo restored its two-goal cushion early in the second. The Canadiens again answered, making it 3-2 heading into the third period. Buffalo sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, silencing Montreal's comeback hopes.

Goaltending played a key role, with Buffalo's netminder turning aside 31 of 33 shots, while Montreal's goalie faced 28 shots and allowed three goals at even strength. The series now shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Sunday, but not before Buffalo looks to double its lead on Friday. Both teams will use the short break to adjust strategies, with Montreal aiming to steal a game on the road and Buffalo seeking to protect its home ice advantage.