To say that Game 6 for the Montreal Canadiens was a rollercoaster of emotions would be an understatement. The Buffalo Sabres struck early, taking the lead just 30 seconds into the game. The Canadiens initially did not back down from the fight, piling on the pressure and turning the one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead. However, that is where the high points end for the Canadiens. The Sabres managed to cut the lead to one before the end of the first, before completely taking over the rest of the game. Buffalo forces a Game 7, beating Montreal 8-3. A game that featured four goalies and marked a feat never before done in Canadiens history.
Canadiens and Sabres trade early Blows
The Canadiens came out of the gates flat, and the Sabres capitalized on it. After a failed dumpout attempt by Juraj Slafkovsky, the puck makes its way over to Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, who gets the Slovakian winger to bite on a deke before roofing a backhand shot over the right shoulder of Jakub Dobes. An early wake-up call for the Canadiens, and they responded in quick succession. Just over a minute later, Arber Xhekaj ties the game off a quick shot from the Jake Evans faceoff win. After a scuffle in the neutral zone, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs ripped Alex Newhook’s helmet off, resulting in a Canadiens power play. Montreal capitalized, with Ivan Demidov scoring a power play goal for the second consecutive game.
After the Canadiens took the lead, immediately after the next faceoff, Phillip Danault took a hooking penalty, sending the Sabres to the power play. The Sabres had a chance to regain the momentum, but it was the Canadiens who were able to strike while shorthanded. Evans picks up the puck along the boards in the Canadiens zone and goes end to end, beating Alex Lyon under the blocker, on the last shot he would see in the night. After letting in his third goal on the third shot he faced, Lyon was pulled and replaced by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
The goalie change must have sent a signal to the rest of the Sabres lineup, because it became a completely different game after that. Buffalo cut into the Canadiens' lead before the end of the first with a power-play goal from Jason Zucker. The Sabres took that momentum into the second period, and it only got worse for the Canadiens.
Unprecedented collapse by the Canadiens
Before the Canadiens' loss to the Sabres on Saturday night, the franchise had never lost a potential series-clinching game at home when leading by multiple goals. But that is exactly what happened tonight.
Canadiens lose a potential series-clinching game at home when leading by multiple goals for the first time in franchise history
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 17, 2026
Buffalo tied the game a minute into the second period, thanks to a Zach Benson from a loose rebound. Buffalo then took the lead mid-way through the period from a Jack Quinn one-timer. They then doubled their lead two minutes later when Konsta Helenius capitalized on a Canadiens' terribly executed line change. The Sabres were now in full control of Game 6, and the “Comeback Kings” could not come back from this one.
The Sabres continued the pressure in the third period, increasing their lead to three on the power play from yet another Quinn one-timer. That would be the end of Dobes' night, who bowed out for Jacob Fowler. Martin St. Louis clearly was thinking ahead to Game 7, electing to give Dobes as much rest as possible before the series finale. The Sabres added an empty netter before scoring on yet another power play, their fourth of the game.
Canadiens need to forget and move forward
Ted Lasso once said, "Be a goldfish," and that is exactly what the Canadiens need to be heading into Game 7. The Canadiens cannot dwell on what happened in Game 6. Whatever happened, happened, but the Canadiens need to shift their focus immediately to Game 7 and how they respond. St. Louis seems to agree, giving his own inspirational quote in the post-game press conference.
St. Louis was asked about the origins behind “bouncing forward,” a saying commonly used by the coach. He responded, “I just feel ‘bounce back,’ you come back to where you were. ‘Bounce forward,’ you’re actually further than where you were. Physics.” The final word came with a big smirk on his face.
St. Louis is right, the team needs to bounce forward, and they have been able to do that throughout the playoffs. The Canadiens have responded well after losses and have yet to lose back-to-back games in the playoffs. Habs fans will hope that the trend continues as the Canadiens look to book their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final with a win in Game 7 on Monday night.
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