Sabres Down Canadiens 4-2 in Round 2 Series Opener

Sport

By lines

May 6, 2026

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Wednesday. Buffalo grabbed a 1-0 series lead at KeyBank Center to open the seven-game series. Josh Doan and Ryan McLeod each posted a goal and an assist for the Sabres. Alex Lyon stopped 26 shots in net to lock down the Game 1 win for Buffalo.

Sabres Power Play Finally Sparks the Series Opener

The Buffalo Sabres entered Game 1 with a stalled postseason power play unit. The Sabres man advantage went silent across most of the first round series against Boston. That power play roared back to life Wednesday against the Canadiens at KeyBank Center. Buffalo capitalized on Montreal penalty trouble to convert in the second round opener.

Josh Doan opened the scoring for the Buffalo Sabres in the first period. Ryan McLeod followed with another Sabres goal to push the Buffalo lead to two. Both Doan and McLeod finished the night with one goal and one assist each. That two-way scoring punch put the Canadiens behind for most of regulation in Buffalo.

Alex Lyon turned aside 26 of 28 Montreal shots in goal for the Buffalo Sabres. Lyon held the Canadiens to two goals across three periods in Game 1. That save total kept the Sabres ahead during a third period push from Montreal. Lyon now owns the starter role for Buffalo in the Round 2 matchup with the Canadiens.

Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach scored the two Montreal Canadiens goals on Wednesday. Suzuki and Dach kept the Canadiens close through forty minutes at KeyBank Center. The Canadiens reached this round after eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. Game 2 between the Sabres and Canadiens is scheduled for Friday at KeyBank Center.