BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Montreal Canadiens edged closer to the Eastern Conference final with a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series on Thursday night at KeyBank Center. Goalie Jakub Dobes, making his third start of the postseason, endured a rocky beginning by surrendering three goals in the first 11 minutes but rebounded strongly to secure the win, stopping 32 of 35 shots for a .917 save percentage. The triumph gives Montreal a 3-2 series lead, setting up a potential closeout game Saturday at the Bell Centre.
The game unfolded as a classic playoff thriller, with the Canadiens overcoming early deficits twice to pull away in the later periods. Buffalo struck first just two minutes in, capitalizing on one of Dobes's early miscues, and quickly added two more goals on consecutive shots to build a 3-1 lead. Cole Caufield's even-strength tally, his first in the playoffs and first since April 9, briefly tied the score at 1-1, but the Sabres responded 1:14 later through Josh Doan.
Montreal refused to fold, with Alexandre Texier knotting the game at 2-2 a mere nine seconds after Doan's goal—a rapid response that highlighted the team's resilience. The second period proved pivotal, as Jake Evans tapped in the go-ahead goal late in the frame, his first playoff marker in 20 games, after a setup that required little effort. Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who had shone in Game 4, struggled mightily, allowing five goals on 20 shots before being pulled after two periods with a .783 save percentage.
"It was an amazing feeling to score a goal," said Ivan Demidov, who notched his first career playoff goal in the contest and fired five shots on net. Demidov's contribution added to the offensive surge, as the Canadiens outscored Buffalo 5-0 over the game's final 49:45 minutes, including three in the third period to seal the outcome.
Dobes's performance drew praise from his teammates and coach. After the initial onslaught, he blanked the Sabres for the remainder, including a crucial stop on Tage Thompson's breakaway early in the second period that preserved a 3-2 deficit at the time. "(Dobes’s) save on Thompson changed the game," Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said post-game. St. Louis revealed he consulted goalie coach Marco Marciano during a tense moment after Buffalo's third goal, when discussions briefly turned to pulling Dobes for Jacob Fowler, but opted to stick with his starter.
"I thanked (St. Louis) for leaving me in the net," Dobes said. "I’m proud of the way I bounced back." Captain Nick Suzuki echoed the sentiment: "We never lost faith in Dobes." The Czech netminder's resilience not only steadied the ship but also tied him with Canadiens legends Ken Dryden in 1971 and Patrick Roy in 1986 for the most playoff road wins by a rookie goalie in franchise history—now at three.
Offensively, the Canadiens distributed the scoring load effectively. Beyond Caufield, Texier, Evans, and Demidov, Suzuki added a power-play goal just 10 seconds after a cross-check penalty on Thompson, who was assessed for needlessly striking Evans in the face. Lane Hutson, the rookie defenseman, was on the ice for all but one of Montreal's goals, underscoring his growing impact. Phillip Danault won 14 of 18 faceoffs, including a key draw leading to Josh Anderson's score six seconds later, assisted by Hutson's precise pass.
Defensively, Montreal blocked 25 shots, with Kaiden Guhle leading at five, followed by four each from Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier. Matheson logged a team-high 26:18 of ice time, while Arber Xhekaj, returning from limited action, played just 7:16 but absorbed a notable hit from Buffalo's Beck Malenstyn. The Canadiens won 55.9 percent of faceoffs and were outhit 21-19, showing discipline in a physical affair.
Luukkonen's benching marked the second time in the playoffs he's followed a strong outing with a poor one; he had similarly faltered against Boston in the first round after a Game 1 win. Buffalo's early momentum evaporated, and despite chances like Thompson's breakaway, they couldn't capitalize. Officiating drew some scrutiny, including a non-call on a hook by Mattias Samuelsson that cost Anderson his glove in the first period.
This victory extends Montreal's playoff streak to 5-0 following a loss, a run unbroken since consecutive defeats on March 14-15 during the regular season. Historically, teams leading 3-2 in best-of-seven series advance 79.6 percent of the time, with a 242-82 record overall and a perfect 3-0 mark in this postseason's opening round. For the Canadiens, who have stumbled in three prior opportunities to close out series on home ice—including Game 6 against Tampa Bay and potential 3-1 leads against both the Lightning and Sabres—this win shifts the pressure back to Buffalo.
Montreal's postseason record stands at 2-3 at the Bell Centre but an impressive 5-2 on the road, a paradox that coach St. Louis has navigated adeptly. Kirby Dach, limited to 9:05 of play, still contributed four shots and three hits, while Demidov's emergence adds depth to a lineup that's scored freely in recent games. The Canadiens' ability to weather storms, as seen with Dobes's recovery, has been a hallmark of their surprising run.
Looking ahead, a win Saturday would send Montreal to face the Carolina Hurricanes, who await with home-ice advantage in the conference final starting Tuesday. Should the series extend to a decisive Game 7 on Monday in Buffalo, the final would be delayed until next Thursday, potentially giving the rested Hurricanes—idle since sweeping Philadelphia on May 9—an edge. Buffalo, meanwhile, must regroup after Luukkonen's inconsistency and find a way to neutralize Montreal's momentum at home.
The series has captivated fans with its twists, from Montreal's road prowess to Buffalo's early dominance that fizzled. As the Canadiens prepare for a possible elimination game on their home floor, St. Louis's button-pushing—evident in keeping Dobes in net—could prove decisive. For now, the focus shifts to Saturday, where Montreal aims to advance and continue its Jekyll-and-Hyde playoff journey.
In a broader context, this matchup underscores the unpredictability of the NHL postseason. The Canadiens, seeded lower after a rebuilding year, have defied expectations by dispatching Tampa Bay in seven games before taking this series lead. Buffalo, bolstered by young talent like Thompson and Doan, showed flashes but faltered under pressure. As the playoffs progress, Montreal's blend of veteran savvy and rookie fire positions them as a dark horse, though the Hurricanes' depth will test that mettle if they advance.
Hy Zurofsky, who covered the game for the Montreal Gazette, noted the oscillating nature of pro sports in his recap, capturing the beauty and agony of such rides. With the series on the line, all eyes will be on the Bell Centre, where Montreal seeks to finally capitalize on home ice and punch its ticket to the next round.