Canadiens aim to take 3-1 series lead over visiting Sabres tonight

Montreal Canadiens' Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) during third period, second round, Game 3, NHL playoff hockey action in Montreal, Sunday, May 10, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL — The Buffalo Sabres can relate to the time-tested adage that some days you’re the pigeon, some days you’re the statue.

After a messy 6-2 loss to the host Canadiens on Sunday — leaving the Sabres down 2-1 in the best-of-seven playoff series — coach Lindy Ruff pointed to a number of self-inflicted mistakes and poor decisions that must be rectified if the Atlantic Division-leading squad hopes to level the second-round series tonight in Montreal.

“We weren’t good enough (in Game 3). We weren’t good enough to win the game,” said Ruff. “It isn’t a time for excuses … I need their best game (tonight).”

After losing the series opener 4-2 in Buffalo, the Canadiens have bounced back with 5-1 and 6-2 victories. Since Game 1, the youngest team in the NHL playoffs has outscored the Sabres 11-3 and has outshot them 64-57.

The Canadiens have a lot going for them heading into tonight’s fourth game — they have rediscovered their potent offence to help take some pressure off rookie netminder Jakub Dobes, the fans at Bell Centre have really cranked up the volume — according to one report the supporters reached an unbelievable 112 decibels — and the Habs have won back-to-back games for the first time this post-season.

“It’s only 2-1 in the series,” Sabres forward Alex Tuch said yesterday. “We have to come out flying (Tuesday). No excuses, we’ve just got to be a lot better.”

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis, credited for pushing all the right buttons to reach this point of the season, has made game-to-game adjustments with special emphasis on fine details. He insists the playoffs have been “fun” and “extra loud” and expects tonight’s key game to be no different.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2026.

The Canadian Press