Hidden Game: Lack of killer instinct comes back to haunt Canadiens yet again

We’ve seen this movie before — and the sequel wasn’t any better than the original.

Nothing, it seems, ever will come easy for the Canadiens. And, perhaps, in the long run that will make it all the more worthwhile. But once again, we’re left to believe this team can’t live with prosperity.

For the third time in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Canadiens failed to seize a golden opportunity Tuesday night on home ice. A win would have provided Montreal with control of this best-of-seven series against Buffalo.

Instead, the Canadiens — yet again — looked like a team that lacks a killer instinct. What else can be said about this 3-2 loss to the Sabres at the Bell Centre, evening the series 2-2.

The Canadiens squandered a 2-1 first-period lead, failing to score a goal over the final 40 minutes despite directing 22 shots at goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. They failed to convert a late second-period double minor against Bowen Byram for high-sticking.

“Maybe it’s a little bit of growth for us in that department,” defenceman Kaiden Guhle said. “We’re still a confident group. Nothing changes for us. We played well. There’s no point hanging our heads. Go to Buffalo and try to take one. It’s playoff hockey. You can’t look in the past.”

This was reminiscent of the Canadiens’ opening-round series against Tampa Bay. Leading 2-1, Montreal lost Game 4 on home ice. Then, leading 3-2, the Canadiens failed to eliminate the Lightning in the sixth game, again on home ice.

This has become a best-of-three. Again, the Canadiens have relinquished their home-ice advantage. Again, the team will be forced to win at least one more game in western New York. That first opportunity comes Thursday night.

News you need (Part I): Game 6 of this series, Saturday night at the Bell Centre, will start at 8 p.m. — further proof that television controls every professional sports league.

How to ruin a good game: With Buffalo already leading 1-0 in the first period, Jack Quinn believed he had provided his team with a two-goal advantage, converting a rebound on the lip of the crease. Following a video review that took forever, it was deemed a good goal; the puck, in the glove of Jakub Dobes, having crossed the goal line.

Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) gloves the puck as Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) pressures him during the period of Game 4 at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The play was called a goal after a video review because the glove was behind the goal line, but the Canadiens challenged, arguing goaltender interference, and the call was overturned after a second review. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette

But wait, there’s more: Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis challenged the call. And, following another lengthy delay, it was determined Konsta Helenius, making his playoff debut, indeed had interfered with Dobes. In other words, there was a review of a review.

News you need (Part II): NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was on site. We understand he was interviewed on radio during one of the intermissions. We wonder if he, yet again, suggested his league’s officials “are the best in the world.”

Random thought of the night: NHL officials actually make CFL arbiters look competent.

News you need (Part III): Buffalo improved to 9-6 in Game 4 of a series when trailing 2-1. And the Sabres franchise is now 3-1 on the road under those circumstances.

News you need (Part IV): Alex Newhook, who scored the Canadiens’ first goal midway through the opening period, has five goals over his last three games. He becomes the first Montreal player to score five times in three playoff games since Yvon Lambert in 1980.

Strange, but true: Zach Benson, who scored the winning goal on the power play early in the third period, was celebrating his 21st birthday. He becomes the second player in Buffalo franchise history to score a post-season goal on his birthday since Peter McNab in 1975. McNab turned 23 that night.

Canadiens centre Alex Newhook (15) is stopped by Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) during third-period action. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette

Go figure: Luukkonen, who replaced Alex Lyon, hadn’t played since April 21, when he allowed four Boston goals in slightly more than 40 minutes and was derricked. Luukkonen carried a 4.19 average and .825 save percentage into the game. Against the Canadiens, however, his save percentage was .933.

News you need (Part V): Cole Caufield, who scored Montreal’s second goal, had the game’s opening shot in the first minute. The Canadiens didn’t get another shot until 9:01.

News you need (Part VI): The first period alone took 52 minutes. The game was played in 2:50.

Game of inches: Mike Matheson hit the crossbar in the opening period.

Late goals kill: Caufield’s power-play goal came at 19:47 of the first period.

Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) sets up to beat Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) to take a 2-1 lead during first period action at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette

Until they don’t: Tage Thompson tied the score seven minutes into the second period.

Eight-ball in the corner pocket: Thompson’s shot, from outside the blue line, hit the stanchion, took a crazy bounce and deflected off Dobes’s right pad. It wasn’t the first time this season Dobes has been victimized by an unfortunate bounce off the boards or glass. Eventually, he’ll learn.

Buffalo Sabres centre Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his goal against Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) to tie the game 2-2 during second-period action in Game 4 in Montreal, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette

Great moments in officiating: Late in the second period, Conor Timmins administered a high-stick to the face of Jake Evans. Evans grabbed his face and fell to the ice in obvious pain. No penalty was assessed.

We can read lips: Evans, with dried blood on his face, was seen on the bench pleading with one of the referees. TV cameras clearly detected him saying: “So f—ing bad.”

Next time, decline the penalty: The Canadiens went 1-for-7 with the man advantage.

Stat of the night: Buffalo blocked 27 shots — six by Mattias Samuelsson, five by Timmins and four by captain Rasmus Dahlin. If the NFL Bills could play prevent defence this competently, they might have defeated Denver in the divisional round last season.

Quick stats: Caufield, Newhook and Juraj Slafkovsky each had five shots. Alexandre Texier had five hits. Matheson was guilty of three giveaways. While Lane Hutson played 28:02, Kirby Dach played only 8:51. Joe Veleno played 6:42, while Arber Xhekaj (3:46) hardly worked up a sweat. Dobes’s save percentage was .864. The Canadiens won only 47.5 per cent of their faceoffs but outhit Buffalo, 26-23.

Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson (48) watches Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (6) celebrate at the Sabres score the opening goal during the first period of Game 4 in Montreal, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette

They said it: “I thought we played a pretty good game,” Caufield said. “To see a fluke goal like (Thompson’s) go in, that’s not the bounce you want. Hockey happens. Their goalie made some big saves. That kept them in it.”

“I just felt like we couldn’t find that third goal,” Nick Suzuki said. “I felt we controlled the second period but just couldn’t find that next goal. It was definitely a missed opportunity.”

“We’ve bounced back all year,” Evans said. “We’re confident.”

“It’s a fine line, right?” St. Louis said. “They got a goal off the door there. Is that the difference? Tip your cap to their goalie. He played a good game.”

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