SPORTS

Canadiens Take 3-2 Series Lead After Game 5

PUBLISHED May 14, 2026, 11:57 PM ET

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans scored 68 seconds apart late in the second period on Thursday night as the Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 in Game 5, taking a 3-2 lead in the second-round playoff series; Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson, Ivan Demidov and Alexandre Texier also scored. Montreal will host Game 6 on Saturday night with the Canadiens leading the series 3-2; Jakub Dobes recovered after allowing three goals on the first four shots to finish with 33 saves, while Buffalo starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled after 40 minutes and five goals against. Coaches and players addressed body language and defensive issues in postgame comments.

By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Early playoff rounds concluded, setting up the second-round Canadiens–Sabres matchup.
Game 4: Sabres won 3-2 at Montreal, a contest marked by a wild goal off a stanchion.
Game 5 (Thursday): Montreal scored three goals in the second period and won 6-3.
Jakub Dobes recovered to finish Game 5 with 33 saves; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled after allowing multiple goals.
Montreal leads the series 3-2 and will host Game 6 on Saturday night.

News Intelligence

If you're a hockey fan, this playoff series is heating up. The Canadiens are showing resilience and team spirit. And if you're a Sabres supporter, it's not over yet. Watch Game 6 on Saturday. It's sure to be a nail-biter.

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