The Buffalo Sabres leveled the score in their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens with a resilient win on Tuesday evening. Zach Benson netted the decisive goal, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves as the Sabres held off the Canadiens 3-2 in a tense Game 4 filled with extended reviews, unusual deflections, and many penalties. This victory tied the playoff series at two wins apiece.
Contributions from Mattias Samuelsson and Tage Thompson, with a fortunate deflection, added to Buffalo’s goals, with Josh Doan providing two assists and Thompson grabbing one assist for a two-point performance. Luukkonen showcased a strong presence in the net during his first appearance since a Game 2 loss in the previous round against Boston, replacing Alex Lyon after back-to-back heavy defeats.
Montreal’s goals came from Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield, with the Canadiens converting only one of their seven power-play opportunities. Jakub Dobes made 19 saves in the losing effort. The series will head back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Thursday before returning to the Bell Centre for Game 6 on Saturday.
Benson broke the tie with a power-play goal at 4:41 into the third period, sliding a backhand past Dobes from the edge of the blue paint while Jake Evans served a penalty for holding. Despite Montreal’s earlier man advantage that went unconverted, Dobes made key saves in the third period to keep the game close.
The atmosphere at the Bell Centre was electrifying, especially after Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada’s message of support for the Canadiens. The game saw a momentum swing after a disputed goal by Jack Quinn, which was eventually disallowed after a lengthy review. The game ended with the Sabres securing a crucial victory, setting the stage for an intense Game 5.