Yogi Berra would be proud. It’s déja vu all over again for the Canadiens.
We wouldn’t have believed it had we not witnessed it. For the second consecutive playoff series, the Canadiens had an opportunity to eliminate their opponent on home ice in Game 6. And for the second time they failed.
But unlike in the first round, this team should be embarrassed by its humiliating 8-3 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
Fans watch on a screen in Montreal as the Canadiens were playing the Buffalo Sabres during Game 6 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, May 16, 2026. John Kenney / Montreal Gazette
The Canadiens appeared to be in control midway through the first period, leading 3-1. All the momentum was on their side. And then? Seven unanswered goals by the visitors — the last coming into an empty net.
And so, for the second consecutive series, the Canadiens will be forced to win a seventh game on the road on Monday night. But how many times can a team play with fire before getting burned? We’re about to find out.
Our random thought of the night (Part I): Even at age 74, the Canadiens’ best defenceman on this night was Larry Robinson, who served as the torch-bearer during the pre-game ceremony.
Our random thought of the night (Part II): Somewhere in Raleigh, Carolina players are sitting back and relishing every moment of this series. The Hurricanes, undefeated in eight playoff games, have been idle since May 9. Whichever team they face in the Eastern Conference final will be battered and bruised. Buffalo has played 12 games — one less than the Canadiens.
News you need (Part I): The Canadiens lost a potential series-clinching game at home when leading by multiple goals for the first time in franchise history.
News you need (Part II): During the Sabres’ 56-season NHL existence, they have one Game 7 win — in 1997 against the always under-achieving Ottawa Senators. So, you might as well say they’ve never won a seventh game.
News you need (Part III): Not only did the game start at 8 p.m. — thanks to ABC — it was the first time the Canadiens appeared on the U.S. network since May 16, 1993, during a playoff game against the New York Islanders. ABC cares little about Canadian teams, apparently. We expect to receive an email denying this statement.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) is pulled from goal as backup Jacob Fowler (32) heads to the net during the third period in Game 6. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette
It was painful to watch: , and the Canadiens wouldn’t have advanced this far without his stellar play. But the 24-year-old rookie appears to be physically and mentally exhausted. He allowed six goals on 33 shots before being replaced by Jacob Fowler midway through the third period. Dobes’s save percentage was .818.
But the sieve of the night award goes to: Alex Lyon. He lasted all of 10:14, allowing three goals on four shots, for a save percentage of .250.
Look at the bright side (Part I): The Canadiens have a 5-2 post-season record on the road.
Look at the bright side (Part II): Sure, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who replaced Lyon, stopped all 18 shots. But he has been unable to string together two consecutive competent playoff performances.
Look at the bright side (Part III): Buffalo, like the Canadiens, has struggled on home ice during the playoffs. Both teams have similar 2-4 records.
Strange, but true (Part I): For the fifth time in six games against Buffalo, the Canadiens allowed an early first-period goal. The latest — captain Rasmus Dahlin scored after only 32 seconds. Needless to say, it was the Sabres’ first shot.
How not to play defence: Alexandre Carrier on Dahlin’s goal.
But wait, there’s more: It was on the play that set the wheels in motion.
Momentum … schmomentum: Only 68 seconds following Dahlin’s goal, Arber Xhekaj tied the score.
Best goal on one knee: Ivan Demidov, with his second score in as many games, gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead.
How to squander a two-goal lead: We believe the turning point occurred at 11:47 of the opening period, when Mike Matheson took a double high-sticking minor. Buffalo scored once while he was off, giving the visitors a life.
How not to play the position (Part I): Dobes lost sight of the puck on Buffalo’s third goal. It trickled behind him, leading to an easy score for Zach Benson. To make matters worse, it came only 60 seconds into the second period and tied the score 3-3.
Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson (8) sends Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson (72) in in Game 6. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette
Our Cirque de Soleil moment of the night: Tage Thompson went up and over Matheson behind the Canadiens’ net in the second period, while attempting to administer a check.
Your best players have to be your best players: Dahlin had a goal and four assists. Thompson had a goal and three assists. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Slafkovsky all failed to score. Caufield contributed one assist. Slafkovsky had three shots. Caufield and Suzuki both had two.
Great moments in officiating: A Bowen Byram elbow to the head of Joe Veleno in the second period went unpenalized. Buffalo scored on its next rush. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman went to bed Saturday night claiming his league’s officials remain “the best in the world.”
Strange, but true (Part II): Buffalo had been outscored 14-6 in the second period during the playoffs. That total improved to 14-9.
At least they were desperate: The Canadiens, trailing by two goals heading into the third period, had one shot through 11 minutes.
How not to play the position (Part II): Dobes, flopping around like a seal all night, looked lost on Buffalo’s sixth goal. It was the final score he allowed.
It wasn’t all bad news: The Canadiens outhit Buffalo 31-19. They also took 58 of the 90 penalty minutes assessed.
It’s a crowded leader-board: Matheson, Carrier and Alexandre Texier all had goal differentials of minus-2.
Quick stats: Demidov had five shots. Zachary Bolduc had seven hits. Despite playing only 7:12, Xhekaj had three hits. The Canadiens won only 39.3 per cent of their faceoffs.
They said it: “We were in a pretty good spot going into the second period,” Suzuki said. “Then we just kind of lost control of the game. There were some plays we want back for sure.”
“I feel like we’ve been good at bouncing forward — and that’s what we intend to do,” Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said.
“We did have control of it,” Lane Hutson said. “They made a push. They made some good plays. We didn’t really fight back hard enough for whatever reason. Credit to them; they played a good game.”
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