Caufield, Dobes Shine as Canadiens Take Down Sabres 4-2 in Buffalo
In what felt more like a home game than a road trip, the Canadiens rolled into Buffalo and were greeted by a sea of red, white, and blue jerseys. With nearly half the crowd repping the Habs, Montreal made themselves comfortable and walked away with a gritty 4-2 win over the Sabres - a victory that not only evened the season series but also nudged them back into the top three in the Atlantic Division.
This one had a little bit of everything: power play battles, momentum swings, and a goaltender standing tall when it mattered most. And for Montreal, it was Cole Caufield and Jakub Dobes who stole the show.
Lineup Notes and Shifts
The Canadiens had to make a late adjustment before puck drop. Alexandre Texier was scratched with a lower-body injury, which prompted Martin St-Louis to bump Kirby Dach up to the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Joe Veleno slotted back into the lineup, taking over Dach’s previous role on the third line with Jake Evans and Zachary Bolduc.
Here’s how the Canadiens lined up:
Forwards:
- Caufield - Suzuki - Dach
- Slafkovsky - Kapanen - Demidov
- Veleno - Evans - Bolduc
- Anderson - Danault - Gallagher
Defense:
- Matheson - Guhle
- Hutson - Dobson
- Xhekaj - Carrier
Goalies:
- Dobes (starter)
- Montembeault
First Period: Early Punches and Power Play Execution
The first period was a tale of two power plays - one that fizzled early and one that clicked when it counted.
Midway through the opening frame, Tage Thompson hauled down Phillip Danault after the veteran center nearly opened the scoring with a sharp wrist shot in tight. The Canadiens’ power play didn’t look great out of the gate - the Sabres cleared the puck with ease - but once the top unit settled in, the puck movement became sharp and purposeful.
With Suzuki and Caufield cycling up high, they executed a slick position swap that pulled Buffalo’s penalty killers out of shape. Suzuki then zipped a pass to Juraj Slafkovsky parked in front of the net, and the big winger hammered it home for the game’s opening goal. That’s the kind of puck movement Montreal fans have been waiting to see from the man advantage.
Second Period: Penalties and Pushback
The second period saw the momentum tilt hard in Buffalo’s favor, and it started with a string of penalties that left Montreal scrambling.
First, Lane Hutson got whistled for tripping Ryan McLeod just as the Habs’ second power play of the night was winding down. Then, in a chaotic stretch of special teams play, McLeod took a penalty of his own, but the Canadiens couldn’t capitalize.
The Sabres made them pay shortly after. With a delayed penalty coming to Montreal, Owen Power stepped into a slap shot from the top of the left circle and beat a screened Dobes to tie the game.
Buffalo kept the pressure on, aided by back-to-back high-sticking calls to Noah Dobson and Hutson. The penalty kill bent - and eventually broke - as Noah Ostlund buried a one-timer off a feed from Alex Tuch just as the Hutson penalty expired, giving Buffalo a 2-1 lead.
Montreal struggled to generate much at even strength during the middle frame, but the second power play unit showed some life. Brendan Gallagher, often criticized for his declining production, was a workhorse on the boards, keeping plays alive. Both Dobson and Oliver Kapanen got pucks through to the net, and it was a rare moment where the second unit looked more dangerous than the first.
Third Period: Caufield Takes Over, Dobes Slams the Door
The third period belonged to Montreal - and specifically, to Cole Caufield.
Just over four minutes in, Dobson sent a cross-ice pass toward the front of the net, and Caufield, battling for position, managed to get his stick free and redirect the puck past Alex Lyon to tie the game at 2-2. It was a classic Caufield goal - quick hands, sharp instincts, and a nose for the net.
Six minutes later, he struck again. This time, it was a textbook forechecking play.
Dach won a puck battle in the corner, fed Suzuki, and Suzuki found Caufield for the finish. Tic-tac-toe, and just like that, Montreal had a 3-2 lead.
But Buffalo didn’t go quietly.
The Sabres threw everything they had at Dobes in the final 10 minutes. With more than 10 shots coming after Caufield’s second goal, the rookie netminder stood tall, making save after save - including a few highlight-reel stops with heavy traffic in front. The Sabres generated 3.2 expected goals in the final frame alone, but Dobes turned them all aside.
Montreal’s penalty kill came up big late, killing off a holding call to Dach with just minutes to go. Once Lyon was pulled for the extra attacker, Kapanen sealed the deal with an empty-netter from deep in his own zone.
Three Stars of the Game
First Star: Cole Caufield
2 goals, 1 assist, 5 shots, +2, 15:39 TOI
Caufield continues to be “Mr. Saturday Night” for the Canadiens, delivering another clutch performance with two goals and three points.
His chemistry with Suzuki remains electric, and he wasn’t just a sniper tonight - he was engaged physically, too, throwing three hits.
Second Star: Jakub Dobes
36 saves on 38 shots, .947 SV%, +3.5 GSAx
Dobes was the backbone of this win. The Sabres pushed hard in the third, but the rookie didn’t flinch.
His positioning, rebound control, and poise under pressure were all on display. That third period was arguably his best stretch of the season.
Third Star: Juraj Slafkovsky
1 goal, 7 shots, +1, 17:28 TOI
Slafkovsky opened the scoring and was a force all night. His line with Kapanen and Demidov created the most consistent five-on-five pressure for Montreal, and even though the only even-strength goal came via the empty net, their play deserved more.
Final Takeaway
This was a statement win for the Canadiens - not just because they beat a divisional opponent on the road, but because of how they did it. They weathered a second-period storm, leaned on their young goalie, and let their top-line talent take over when it mattered most.
Montreal’s mix of youth, grit, and high-end skill is starting to click. And if Caufield and Dobes keep playing like this, the Canadiens might not just be thinking about playoff positioning - they might be thinking about making some noise once they get there.