MTL 2–3 BUF Final · L
Canadiens/Schedule/Recap Tue, May 12, 2026 · 2025-26 playoffs
Montreal Canadiens
MTL · 6-5
2–3
FinalL
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 6-4
1ST2ND3RDT MTL 28011012231 BUF 1121515322 goals · shots on goal
Game 4 — the series is tied 2–2
MTL 6-5 · BUF 6-4 · Game 4 — the series is tied 2–2

Canadiens fell to the Sabres

The Canadiens created the better chances (3.3 to 2.3 expected goals) — and lost 2–3. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 2.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.

Who had the better chances

The Canadiens created the better chances: 3.3 expected goals to 2.3, on 31 and 22 shots on goal.

MTL 3.3 xG · 31 shots BUF 2.3 xG · 22 shots
0
1
2
3
1st 1.2 · 0.9
2nd 0.8 · 0.4
3rd 1.2 · 1.0
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Canadiens win 66.
MTL 66%BUF 34%

Goals and penalties

5 goals · 11 penalties
← Canadiens shoot this way Sabres shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
1
06:32 Mattias Samuelsson
Josh Norris, Josh Doan · snap shot, a good chance (15%)
0–1
2
10:08 Alex Newhook
Jake Evans, Ivan Demidov · snap shot, a good chance (12%)
1–1
PEN
11:28 Alexandre Carrier· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
12:06 Rasmus Dahlin· Interference
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
14:57 Jason Zucker· Roughing
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
17:25 Peyton Krebs· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
17:25 Zachary Bolduc· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
19:19 Tage Thompson· Cross-checking
Caufield scored on this power play
2 min
Minor
3
19:47 Cole Caufield PP
Juraj Slafkovský, Lane Hutson · Power play (Thompson, cross-checking) · wrist shot, a great chance (29%)
2–1
2nd period
PEN
02:23 Bowen Byram· High-sticking
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
05:56 Alexandre Carrier· High-sticking
Thompson scored on this power play
4 min
Double minor
4
07:00 Tage Thompson PP
Rasmus Dahlin · Power play (Carrier, high-sticking) · snap shot, a low-percentage shot (1%) that found a way in
2–2
PEN
11:21 Rasmus Dahlin· Interference
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
18:31 Bowen Byram· High-sticking
Killed
4 min
Double minor
3rd period
PEN
03:47 Jake Evans· Holding
Benson scored on this power play
2 min
Minor
5
04:41 Zach Benson PPGWG
Josh Doan, Tage Thompson · Power play (Evans, holding) · backhand shot, a good chance (15%)
2–3
Goaltending
−0.3
vs expected
19/22 saves · 3 GA · 2.7 xGA Gave up about what the shots he faced would predict.
+2.0
vs expected
29/31 saves · 2 GA · 4.0 xGA Stopped 2.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.
Team MTLBUF
Shots on goal
31
22
Expected goals
3.3
2.3
Hits
0
0
Blocks
0
0
Faceoffs
48%
52%
Power play
1/6
2/3
Penalty minutes
0
0
The Canadiens went 1-for-6 on the power play and allowed 2 on 3 Sabres power plays.