BUF 1–5 MTL Final · L
Sabres/Schedule/Recap Fri, May 8, 2026 · 2025-26 playoffs
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 5-3
1–5
FinalL
Montreal Canadiens
MTL · 5-4
1ST2ND3RDT BUF 08111010129 MTL 2131827528 goals · shots on goal
Game 2 — the series is tied 1–1
BUF 5-3 · MTL 5-4 · Game 2 — the series is tied 1–1

Sabres fell to the Canadiens

The Sabres were outchanced (4.3 to 1.7 expected goals) and lost 1–5. Alex Lyon allowed 1.4 more goals than expected from the shots he faced.

Who had the better chances

The Canadiens created the better chances: 4.3 expected goals to 1.7, on 28 and 29 shots on goal.

BUF 1.7 xG · 29 shots MTL 4.3 xG · 28 shots
0
1
2
3
4
1st · the swing 0.5 · 1.8
2nd 0.7 · 1.6
3rd 0.5 · 0.9
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Sabres win 14.
BUF 14%MTL 86%

Goals and penalties

6 goals · 13 penalties
← Sabres shoot this way Canadiens shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
1
01:36 Alex Newhook
Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson · tip in shot, a good chance (14%)
0–1
2
04:27 Mike Matheson GWG
Phillip Danault · snap shot, a low-percentage shot (7%) that found a way in
0–2
PEN
07:34 Alexandre Carrier· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
11:47 Rasmus Dahlin· Interference
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
19:50 Josh Doan· Interference
Killed
2 min
Minor
2nd period
PEN
02:43 Alexandre Carrier· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
3
04:47 Alex Newhook
Jake Evans, Noah Dobson · snap shot, a great chance (36%)
0–3
PEN
05:33 Arber Xhekaj· Slashing
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
09:36 Mattias Samuelsson· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
14:38 Bench· Too many men on the ice
Killed
2 min
Bench minor
PEN
17:04 Kaiden Guhle· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
17:04 Logan Stanley· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
4
19:22 Zach Benson
Conor Timmins, Josh Doan · tip in shot, a low-percentage shot (9%) that found a way in
1–3
3rd period
5
03:54 Alexandre Carrier
Unassisted · snap shot, a great chance (27%)
1–4
PEN
13:08 Bowen Byram· Elbowing
Killed
2 min
Minor
6
15:59 Nick Suzuki EN
Josh Anderson · snap shot, into an empty net
1–5
PEN
17:18 Josh Anderson· Cross-checking
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
17:18 Josh Anderson· Misconduct
10 min
Misconduct
PEN
18:34 Zach Benson· Cross-checking
Killed
2 min
Minor
Goaltending
−1.4
vs expected
23/27 saves · 4 GA · 2.6 xGA Allowed 1.4 more goals than expected from the shots he faced.
+1.0
vs expected
28/29 saves · 1 GA · 2.0 xGA Stopped 1.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.
Team BUFMTL
Shots on goal
29
28
Expected goals
1.7
4.3
Hits
0
0
Blocks
0
0
Faceoffs
43%
57%
Power play
0/5
0/5
Penalty minutes
0
0
The Sabres went 0-for-5 on the power play and killed all 5 Canadiens power plays.