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Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov entered Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday without a playoff goal in 16 career playoff games.
But in his 17th, the 20-year-old Calder Trophy finalist had a goal and an assist, along with a team-leading five shots on goal, to help the Habs push the Sabres to the brink of elimination in a 6-3 win.
Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov celebrates a goal in the third period of Game 5 of their second round Stanley Cup playoff series at KeyBank Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Joed Viera Jr. / Buffalo NewsMontreal leads the series 3-2 with a chance to clinch a conference final berth at home on Saturday.
Cole Caufield extended his goal-scoring streak to three games, but most importantly, scored his first goal at even-strength in these playoffs. Linemates Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky each had three points.
The Canadiens’ cold bats are suddenly swinging again, and that spelled trouble for goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who followed up Game 4’s winning performance with an early trip to the showers after getting pulled during the second intermission. Alex Lyon gave up a goal on three shots in relief.
For the third straight game, the Sabres jumped to an early lead. This time, Jason Zucker got his team on the board precisely two minutes in.
Zucker’s goal started a dizzying sequence where five goals were scored in the game’s opening 10:15. The Canadiens drew even at 6:31 when all three members of the top line connected on Caufield’s third goal of the series.
Only 1:14 later, the Sabres scored their second goal in as many shots to retake the lead. Josh Doan beat Dobes through traffic.
On the very next shift, the Habs tied it up. Nine seconds after the Doan goal, Alexandre Carrier’s point shot deflected off Alexandre Texier and beat Luukkonen to make it 2-2.
The Sabres didn’t wait long to strike back. Just past the midway point of the opening frame, Konsta Helenius scored his first of the postseason after only entering the picture in Game 4 against the Habs. The four goals scored in a span of 3:44 was the fastest four-goal sequence so far this post-season.
After Dobes gave up three goals on four shots, coach Martin St. Louis took a long, hard look at backup Jacob Fowler on the bench, but elected to stand pat. It proved to be the correct decision.
Dobes made St. Louis look smart early in the second period by showing patience against Tage Thompson on a breakaway.
The Canadiens went on to score three unanswered goals in the second period, along with another in the third.
It started with Lane Hutson setting up Josh Anderson off a winning face-off from Phillip Danault to once again tie the game.
During the second period, it felt like Demidov was due to get the monkey off his back. He had the initial chance on Luukkonen, but it was Jake Evans who potted the loose puck in the crease to break a 19-game goalless drought in the playoffs to give the Habs their first lead of the night.
And then the Habs, who went 1-for-7 on the power play in Game 4, feasted on the two power plays they were given in Game 5. First, Suzuki scored just 10 seconds after Thompson was sent to the box for cross-checking. When Thompson returned to the bench, head coach Lindy Ruff gave him an eye-full for his indiscretion.
Habs led 5-3 after 40 minutes. With home-advantage in the series on the line, the Sabres came out in the third desperate to push back, but once again fell into penalty trouble. Rasmus Dahlin went to the box for cross-checking at 2:09 into the final frame, and Demidov finally hit the scoresheet.
The Sabres fired 20 shots on Dobes in the third period, but the rookie netminder — who finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting — left his rough start in the rearview and was back to his game-saving self with a three-goal lead to protect.
On Saturday at the Bell Centre, the Habs get a second chance these playoffs to eliminate their opponent on home ice. The Lightning staved off elimination, and the Sabres will look to do the same.
Entering the game, Caufield, Demidov and Slafkovsky were rightfully criticized by the Liveblog faithful on the Hockey Inside Out YouTube livestream for failing to generate offence at the same clip as during the regular season.
In fact, Caufield went over a month without scoring a goal at five-on-five. His last one was his 50th on April 9.
But every night, there’s a fresh opportunity to become the hero. Kirby Dach turned his fortunes around. So did Alex Newhook and Zachary Bolduc. Last night, it was the maligned top scorers who finally cracked the code.
Speaking of heroes, Dobes remains undefeated after a loss in the post-season. And add resisting a goalie change to the growing list of wise moves for bench boss St. Louis, along with calling a timeout in overtime of Game 1 vs. Tampa and showing faith in Dach in after his Game 2 giveaway.
Tied with Suzuki at top spot among point-getters for the Habs these playoffs is defenceman Lane Hutson, who hasn’t skipped a beat from the regular season.
At the other end, what will the Sabres do with twin power forwards Thompson and Alex Tuch, who were supposed to strike fear into Montreal’s defence but are instead a combined minus-17 this series? And who will start in goal on Saturday?
The commenters smell blood, and they want the series to end on home ice. Here’s what they had to say about Montreal’s third rout in the second round.
3. Demidov woke up. Hutson was his usual brilliant self. Dobes bounced back. Very satisfying result.
Marc Taillefer2. Some nights Doby saved the HABS. Tonight the HABS saved Doby. That's what a cohesive team does.
Carin Latzel1. I am really starting to believe that the Habs are by far the better team. And I am a glass half empty kind of guy!
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