The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 [1] in Game 1 [2] of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday.

This victory provides Buffalo with a critical early advantage in the series, proving that their special teams can perform under high-pressure playoff conditions.

The win was fueled by a revived power-play unit that produced two goals during the contest [3]. The offensive surge helped Buffalo maintain control of the game and outpace the Canadiens throughout the evening [3].

Key contributions from players including Byram and McLeod were instrumental in the victory [3]. Their ability to score on the power play shifted the momentum in favor of the Sabres, a factor that had been a point of concern in previous matchups.

Montreal struggled to contain the Buffalo offense, allowing four goals in the opener [1]. The Canadiens now face the challenge of adjusting their defensive strategy to neutralize the Sabres' power play before the next game of the series [4].

The series continues following this initial encounter on May 6, 2026 [2]. Both teams will look to leverage the momentum or recover from the loss as they compete for a spot deeper in the playoffs [4].

“The Sabres defeated the Canadiens 4-2 in Game 1 of the second-round playoff series.”

Winning the first game of a second-round series is often a psychological turning point in the NHL playoffs. By successfully integrating their power play into the offensive strategy, the Sabres have forced Montreal to rethink their penalty-kill approach, potentially leaving the Canadiens vulnerable to other scoring threats in subsequent games.