The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Tuesday night, converting on special teams and getting stellar goaltending while Montreal controlled much of the territorial play. Buffalo scored once on the power play and got 26 saves from Alex Lyon, building a two-goal lead that Montreal's possession advantages couldn't erase early, which stretched to a three-goal lead at one point.
This wasn't a game Montreal lost because they failed to execute their structure. They lost because Buffalo's special teams exploited every mistake, Lyon stopped nearly everything dangerous, and the Sabres converted limited opportunities with ruthless efficiency. When a team controls possession metrics but trails by three goals midway through a game, the metrics are measuring the wrong things.
Montreal outshot Buffalo 28-16 yet trailed 4-1 midway through the second period. The Canadiens created more offensive-zone time and more shot attempts, but Buffalo's power play went 1-for-3 while Lyon saved everything that mattered. The margins that decided this game came down to special teams execution and goaltending, not five-on-five structure.
Why Buffalo's Efficiency Trumped Montreal's Volume
Josh Doan scored 4:31 into the first period to open the scoring, then assisted on Ryan McLeod's power-play goal at 13:26 of the first. Zach Benson assisted on both plays and finished with two helpers. Doan and Benson created havoc early, building a 2-0 lead before Montreal could establish the kind of sustained pressure their shot totals suggest they maintained all night.
McLeod scored on the power play and later set up Bowen Byram's even-strength goal at 9:01 of the second period. Byram's snap shot from the slot made it 4-1, coming off a failed Montreal clear that screened Jakub Dobes enough that he never saw it. That goal, more than any possession statistic, decided this game.
Buffalo's power play finished 1-for-3 on the night. Montreal's penalty kill couldn't handle Buffalo's speed on entries, and the Sabres' rush-heavy attack created clean looks that Dobes couldn't stop. Buffalo didn't need to dominate possession if their goaltender stopped everything dangerous and their special teams capitalized on the chances they got.
Montreal's Possession Edge Didn't Create Quality
Nick Suzuki scored a power-play goal at 19:16 of the first period with assists from Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, cutting Buffalo's lead to 2-1. That was Montreal's only moment where their faceoff dominance translated directly into offensive danger. Suzuki's line generated extensive offensive-zone time but couldn't convert territorial control into consistent scoring chances.
Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power took away time and space from Montreal's top unit, forcing the Canadiens to cycle low and work the puck to the perimeter. Buffalo's defensive structure generated the kind of shot volume that inflates possession metrics without threatening the net.
Lane Hutson led Montreal with five shots from the blue line. Demidov and Slafkovsky combined for multiple shots in extended ice time. Those numbers look like offensive engagement until you consider that Montreal managed just two goals despite outshooting Buffalo 28-16.
Kirby Dach scored off a Zachary Bolduc assist at 16:31 of the second period, making it 4-2, but that was Montreal's only even-strength goal after Suzuki's power-play marker. Dach couldn't convert territorial control into the kind of sustained danger needed to mount a comeback.
Buffalo's Defensive Containment Held Despite Metrics
Buffalo blocked 13 shots, matching Montreal's 13 blocks in a near-even total that doesn't capture how the Sabres forced Montreal into low-percentage attempts. Dahlin put four shots on goal himself, matching his usual offensive output, which suggests he wasn't pinned in his own zone despite Montreal's shot advantage.
Ruff's balanced forward usage kept ice time distributed evenly, enabling tight matching against Montreal's top line. Suzuki and Slafkovsky's points were on the power play, showing how disruptive the Buffalo defense was at even strength.
Jordan Greenway scored at 3:32 of the second period with an assist from Mattias Samuelsson, illustrating Buffalo's ability to transition quickly when Montreal's possession broke down. The Sabres finished their chances at a higher rate, with Greenway's line contributing to even-strength offense by forcing Montreal into defensive errors.
Montreal Did Many Things Right and Still Lost
Montreal did many things right structurally. They outshot Buffalo and controlled possession for long stretches. But Buffalo's power play went 1-for-3 while Montreal's went 1-for-2, and Lyon made 26 saves while Dobes stopped just 12 of 16 shots. The margins that decided this game aren't easily fixable through tactical adjustments.
This marked the first time Montreal trailed by multiple goals early in a game, creating uncharted territory for a team that had controlled games more effectively in previous rounds. The Canadiens generated volume but couldn't convert it into the kind of quality chances that beat a goaltender playing as well as Lyon did.
Buffalo's ability to win while being outshot and outpossessed suggests they've found a formula that works against Montreal's structure. Special teams execution and goaltending can overcome territorial disadvantages, and the Sabres proved that over 60 minutes. Montreal will need to find ways to convert their possession into better scoring chances, or Buffalo's efficiency will continue to decide this series.