Lindy Ruff had one line going in this series, and has tossed that into the blender for this game with the others trying to spark two players who aren’t going. We’ll see how that works out.
First period
It’s a very familiar refrain at this point. A weak clearing attempt by the top line — Juraj Slafkovský tonight rather than Cole Caufield — allows the Buffalo Sabres to stay on the attack, and they take advantage with a quick goal. Rasmus Dahlin dekes his way to the net and beats Ja...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 6: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)
MTL leads 3-2
Start time: **8:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM PDT** In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ABC Streaming: Sportsnet+
A couple of times in this series it looked like the Buffalo Sabres had the answer for the Montreal Canadiens’ offence. The Habs were held to two goals in the opening game as the Sabres looked strong in th...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 6: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)
MTL leads 3-2
Start time: **8:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM PDT** In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ABC Streaming: Sportsnet+
For the second time in a row, the Montreal Canadiens went into a series without home-ice advantage and were able to win a pivotal Game 5 on the road to set themselves up with a chance to close out a serie...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
After missing their chance to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, the Canadiens are determined to take care of business tonight. [ La Presse ]
Joe Veleno knows the team played a great Game 6 last round at home, and just needs to have a slightly better effort tonight. [ TVA Sports ]
The players praised Jakub Dobeš for his ability to bounce back after a rough start in Game 5. [ TVA Sports ]
Martin St-Louis liked that Ivan Demido...
With their Walter Cup Final debut seemingly seconds away from beginning with a loss, the Montreal Victoire delivered one of their most dramatic wins of the year, defeating the Ottawa Charge 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night at Place Bell to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The hero was Abby Roque, who scored twice including the overtime winner 2:29 into the extra frame. Maggie Flaherty fired a point shot into traffic which was deflected into Roque’s face mask and into the net. ...
Game 5 of the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres’ second-round series got off to a start that could charitably be called “chaotic.” With five goals in the opening 10:15 of play, it was far from a goaltending classic for both starters. When the first period came to a close with the Habs trailing and all the momentum tilting towards the Sabres, it seemed like it might have been time for Jacob Fowler to come in for his first Stanley Cup Playoff action to try to salvage a critical game.
In...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
The Canadiens management could write a great book about how to rebuild an NHL team. [ Montreal Gazette ]
David Savard reminded everyone that there was no need to panic with a series tied at two. [ La Presse ]
Arpon Basu noted before game 5 that even-strength production from the top line appeared “imminent.” [ The Athletic ]
Welcome to the Ivan Demidov show. [ Daily Faceoff ]
Martin St-Louis wanted to see his team act like champions. ...
First period
So much for a better start from Montreal. A shot from the point takes a double deflection of Jason Zucker and then Mike Matheson’s heel to get behind Dobeš, and Montreal is chasing after not being ready for the start of the game once again.
Kirby Dach gets Montreal first two chances of the game, trying to bank the puck in off the side of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s head, then getting a rebound chance at the side of the net.
As they usually do, the Canadiens manage to t...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 5: Montreal Canadiens (A3) @ Buffalo Sabres (A1)
Series tied 2-2
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ESPN Streaming: Sportsnet+
The Buffalo Sabres have made another lineup change despite getting the win in Game 4. Lindy Ruff has united his team’s two deadline defencemen to form a third pairing of Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley, taking...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 5: Montreal Canadiens (A3) @ Buffalo Sabres (A1)
Series tied 2-2
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ESPN Streaming: Sportsnet+
Before the teams left Buffalo after Game 2, the Sabres faced an inquisition from the home media. Why was Tage Thompson unable to contribute to the offence? How could the power play continue to be so poor? Wa...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Road success and a united mindset have the Canadiens confident heading into Game 5. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Lane Hutson is putting his bottomless tank of energy and elite instincts on full display in playoff run. [ TSN ]
Bob Gainey is tuning in and enjoying the playoff runs of the Canadiens and Montreal Victoire. [ NHL ]
Despite the rocky start and loss in Game 4, the Canadiens were pretty pleased with their overall performance. [ TSN ] ...
In front of a raucous crowd of 6,104 at Place Bell, the Montreal Victoire defeated the Minnesota Frost 2-1 on Tuesday night in the decisive fifth game of their Professional Women’s Hockey League semifinal series.
For a franchise that had reached the playoffs in each of its first three seasons but had never advanced beyond the opening round, this victory marked a major breakthrough. Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie called it the biggest win in the organization’s history to date.
The ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Martin St-Louis believes his team can play any type of game the opposition wants to challenge them with. [ Montreal Gazette ]
A first taste of the playoffs “meant everything” to Joe Veleno. [ Montreal Gazette ]
As the Canadiens rise, Vincent Lecavalier finds his place in a familiar Stanley Cup pursuit. [ The Athletic ]
With the Canadiens dominating the spotlight, where do the Laval Rocket go from here? [ La Presse ]
Around the leag...
First period
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is in net, as the Buffalo Sabres desperately look for someone to slow down Montreal’s offence.
Luukkonen stops the first shot of the game, from Cole Caufield on a two-on-one with Juraj Slafkovský.
It’s not as energetic a start as the Sabres had in Game 3.
Alex Tuch gets a lane to the net and sends a short-side shot off the post.
Now the Sabres are beginning to make things happen. Dobeš had to shoot out his glove to deny the latest sh...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 4: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)
MTL leads 2-1
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ESPN Streaming: Sportsnet+
Lindy Ruff has made two lineup changes for Game 4. Sam Carrick is out after playing on Sunday, though it seems to be more of a coach’s decision than from any injury from Arber Xhekaj’s fine-worthy punch at t...
A shirtless 25-year-old storms around the visitors’ dressing room in Buffalo, screaming out the starting lineup like his life depends on it. That’s Alex Newhook before Game 2 against the Buffalo Sabres. Fired up, loud, and, based on reports, in possession of Phillip Danault’s coffee, which he had apparently helped himself to before puck drop. Whether that’s theft or superstition is a matter of perspective. What isn’t up for debate is what happened after his caffeine fix.
Newhook scored 96...
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach proving their worth. [ Sportsnet | TVA Sports | Radio-Canada | The Athletic | La Presse ]
Defense and goaltending, as much as goal scoring, have been the source of the Habs’ success. [ Sportsnet ]
Jakub Dobes’ case for the Conn Smythe. [ NHL ]
Dobes has won over Montreal’s fans. [ TVA Sports | Montreal Gazette | Radio-Canada ]
Martin St-Louis is the heart of this Canadiens team. [ TSN | NHL ]
St-Louis...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 4: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)
MTL leads 2-1
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ESPN Streaming: Sportsnet+
Through three games, the Montreal Canadiens’ second-round series is playing out in the reverse of the opening round versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the first series, the Lightning tried to be physically i...
After earning a split on the road with a big win in game two, the Montreal Canadiens were welcomed back to the Bell Centre by a raucous crowd for game three on Sunday night. They rewarded their fans with a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, and an even more complete performance this time around. For the first time in the playoffs, they’ve won back-to-back games, and have a chance to take a stranglehold on this series in front of what promises to be another epic Bell Centre turnout for game four ...
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the winner-take-all game between the Montreal Victoire and Minnesota Frost on Monday night at Place Bell is a must-win game. It is Game 5 of a best-of-five series.
It is the first time that the Victoire will have the chance to use their well-earned home-ice advantage with a chance to move on to the Walter Cup Final. Home-ice advantage in a best-of-five series is tricky at times for the higher seed. You are guaranteed to be trying to close out a ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Zachary Bolduc says that the flip side of the Canadiens’ top line not scoring at five-on-five is that they’re keeping the top players on the other team occupied to allow those like him to contribute offensively. [ La Presse ]
As if Jakub Dobeš playing a solid game in net wasn’t enough, he’s also become a bit of a pest for other teams. [ Journal de Montreal ]
See Dobeš soaking in the Bell Centre atmosphere during his on-ice interview after last...
First period
The broadcast talks about the struggles of Cole Caufield and Tage Thompson, and both feature on the opening goal of the game. Caufield gets the puck alone in his own slot and makes a flip toward the blue line that goes nowhere. Rasmus Dahlin ends up getting a shot as a result, and the puck bounces off the end boards and trickles right to Thompson alone at the side of the net to get an easy goal to bust his slump.
Phillip Danault’s line gets a good chance trying to even...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 3: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)
Series tied 1-1
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ESPN Streaming: Sportsnet+
With the faceoffs decidedly in the Montreal Canadiens’ favour, 62-42 after two games, the Buffalo Sabres will be inserting Sam Carrick onto the fourth line tonight, hoping that the one player they had who ...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference SFs
Game 3: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)
Series tied 1-1
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: ESPN Streaming: Sportsnet+
Losing Game 1 by a bigger margin than any match in the opening round, the Montreal Canadiens responded in a big way on Friday night. With a 5-1 win, they won by four goals for the first time since March 21...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Phillip Danault has played a key role for the Canadiens in this post-season. [ Sportsnet ]
Danault has his post-game pizza, but now also needs to give Alex Newhook his pre-game coffee for superstitious reasons. [ TVA Sports ]
“Between whistles, he does weird things around his net. He’s in his own world.” Danault doesn’t think the Buffalo Sabres can penetrate the bubble Jakub Dobeš lives in. [ La Presse ]
Players and coaches in the Canadie...