Cole Caufield netted his second playoff goal and contributed an assist in the Montreal Canadiens’ commanding 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3, propelling them to a 2-1 series lead. Alex Newhook notched two goals, including an empty-netter, while Zachary Bolduc, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Kirby Dach also found the back of the net for the Canadiens.
Lane Hutson and Jake Evans each recorded two assists, and Jakub Dobeš made 26 saves as Montreal secured back-to-back wins for the first time in this postseason. The rookie goalie, Dobeš, received enthusiastic chants from the Montreal crowd, leading to moments of celebration in the arena.
Dobeš expressed his pride in playing for the Canadiens, emphasizing the joy he feels seeing fans enjoying the team’s success. Despite the growing spotlight on Dobeš, he maintains his humble demeanor, attributing his focus to stopping pucks and supporting the franchise and its fans.
Buffalo’s Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin responded with a goal and an assist each, but the Sabres couldn’t maintain their road-game success. The series now shifts back to Montreal after the teams split the first two games in Buffalo.
In an eventful second period, Caufield broke the tie with a power-play goal, initiating a flurry of scoring actions. The Canadiens capitalized on opportunities, with Bolduc extending their lead, and Slafkovsky converting a man-advantage opportunity. Dahlin managed to narrow the gap for Buffalo, but Dach’s goal reestablished Montreal’s three-goal lead.
Dobeš’s timely saves were crucial in fending off the Sabres’ offensive pushes, as the Canadiens rode his performance to victory. Newhook sealed the win with his second goal of the night, delighting the Montreal fans.
The atmosphere around the Bell Centre was electric, with large crowds gathering to support the Canadiens in their playoff journey. The team’s success has reignited the passion of fans, creating a festive environment around the city.
Game 4 is set to take place at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, with both teams looking to gain an edge in this tightly contested series.