The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 in Game 3 of their second-round series on Sunday, May 13, 2024 [1].

The victory places Montreal in a commanding position as they now hold a 2-1 lead in the series [2]. This result shifts the momentum in favor of the Canadiens after a dominant performance at the Bell Centre [1].

Cole Caufield provided the spark for the offense by scoring the first goal of the game. The goal came during a power play after Buffalo forward Josh Doan received a penalty [5]. This marked Caufield's second goal of the playoffs [1]. Caufield entered the postseason following a regular season in which he scored 51 goals [4].

The Canadiens' offensive surge was a central theme of the night. Montreal's ability to capitalize on special teams, and maintain pressure throughout the game, led to the four-goal margin of victory [1].

Head coach Martin St. Louis noted the difference in the team's offensive flow during this series compared to the previous round. "The line had more puck possession and room to work than in their seven-game series against Tampa Bay last round," St. Louis said [3].

The Sabres struggled to contain the Montreal attack, resulting in a blowout loss that mirrors previous challenges in the series [2]. Montreal's power play proved to be the deciding factor in securing the win and the series advantage [5].

“Montreal leads series 2-1”

By taking a 2-1 lead in the second round, Montreal has put significant pressure on Buffalo to win two consecutive games to avoid falling into a deep deficit. The efficiency of Montreal's power play and the resurgence of Cole Caufield suggest a tactical advantage that Buffalo must address to survive the series.