Sabres Strike on the Power Play to Take Game 1 Over Canadiens
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By Milica Zivic
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Summary:
- The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montréal Canadiens 4-2 in Game 1 behind two power-play goals from Bowen Byram and Ryan McLeod.
- Alex Lyon made 26 saves as Sabres snapped their recent special teams struggles.
- Canadiens struggled after a long series but got goals from Suzuki and Dach.
The Buffalo Sabres used a sudden surge on the power play and a composed performance in net from Alex Lyon to take Game 1 of their Stanley Cup 2026 second-round playoff series with a 4-2 win over the Montréal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Back-to-Back Power Plays
Bowen Byram and Ryan McLeod scored on back-to-back power plays, offering the Sabres a cushion they would not relinquish.
Josh Doan was the one who opened the scoring early on, finishing a quick counterattack after a Montréal turnover, while Jordan Greenway added another goal to round out Buffalo’s attack.
Lyon proved to be steady throughout, managing to turn aside a total of 26 shots and showing his strong run since taking over the starting role earlier in the playoffs.
His calm presence helped Buffalo weather moments when Montréal pushed back, especially during the second period.
Montréal Was Off Pace
Montréal responded through Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach, but the Canadiens looked slightly off pace after a long seven-game series in the opening round.
Goalie Jakub Dobes faced heavy pressure early and was unable to replicate the sharp form he showed against Tampa Bay.
Buffalo, by contrast, appeared sharper from the start. The Sabres had extra rest coming into the series and used it to their advantage, jumping on mistakes and controlling momentum early.
Their quick start included Doan’s goal just over four minutes into the game, followed by McLeod’s power play finish midway through the first period.
Byram’s goal in the second period also marked a milestone moment, tying a franchise playoff record for goals by a defenseman. Despite some late pressure from Montréal, Buffalo maintained control heading into Game 2.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff admitted that while the team wasn’t perfect, they responded well when opportunities came. On the other side, Montréal coach Martin St. Louis pointed to missed chances and said his team will need to adjust quickly.
The hockey series continues on Friday in Buffalo before shifting to Montréal, where the Canadiens will look to even things up and regain the momentum they lost in Game 1.
