MTL 2–4 BUF Final · L
Canadiens/Schedule/Recap Thu, Jan 22, 2026 · 2025-26 regular season
Montreal Canadiens
MTL · 28-16-7
2–4
FinalL
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 28-17-5
1ST2ND3RDT MTL 01021509234 BUF 281316417 goals · shots on goal
Meeting 3 this season — the Canadiens trail the season series 1–2
MTL 28-16-7 · BUF 28-17-5 · Meeting 3 this season — the Canadiens trail the season series 1–2

Canadiens fell to the Sabres

Chances were even (3.0 to 3.2 expected goals); the Canadiens lost 2–4. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 1.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.

Who had the better chances

Chances were close: 3.0 expected goals to 3.2, on 34 and 17 shots on goal.

MTL 3.0 xG · 34 shots BUF 3.2 xG · 17 shots
0
1
2
3
1st 0.5 · 1.3
2nd · the swing 2.0 · 1.2
3rd 0.5 · 0.7
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Canadiens win 47.
MTL 47%BUF 53%

Goals and penalties

6 goals · 9 penalties
← Canadiens shoot this way Sabres shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
1
00:44 Jason Zucker
Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod · snap shot, a good chance (17%)
0–1
PEN
13:01 Michael Kesselring· High-sticking
Killed
2 min
Minor
2
14:58 Beck Malenstyn SH
Mattias Samuelsson · backhand shot, a great chance (35%)
0–2
2nd period
3
02:25 Zach Benson GWG
Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund · snap shot, a great chance (56%)
0–3
4
03:56 Cole Caufield
Nick Suzuki, Mike Matheson · snap shot, a low-percentage shot (7%) that found a way in
1–3
PEN
07:44 Rasmus Dahlin· Slashing
Killed
2 min
Minor
5
11:20 Nick Suzuki
Zachary Bolduc · snap shot on a rebound, a good chance (22%)
2–3
PEN
14:47 Mattias Samuelsson· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
14:47 Zachary Bolduc· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
16:55 Zachary Bolduc· Slashing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
16:55 Zachary Bolduc· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
16:55 Rasmus Dahlin· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
3rd period
PEN
05:51 Noah Ostlund· Slashing
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
07:16 Lane Hutson· Slashing
Killed
2 min
Minor
6
19:16 Peyton Krebs EN
Tage Thompson · snap shot, into an empty net
2–4
Goaltending
+0.2
vs expected
13/16 saves · 3 GA · 3.2 xGA Gave up about what the shots he faced would predict.
+1.0
vs expected
32/34 saves · 2 GA · 3.0 xGA Stopped 1.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.
Team MTLBUF
Shots on goal
34
17
Expected goals
3.0
3.2
Hits
28
26
Blocks
20
17
Faceoffs
64%
36%
Power play
0/3
0/1
Penalty minutes
8
10
The Canadiens went 0-for-3 on the power play and killed all 1 Sabres power play.