Story perspectives

Sabres Blast Canadiens 8-3, Force Game 7

5/18/2026

Summary

Sabres Force Game 7

Buffalo Sabres beat Montreal Canadiens 8-3 in Game 6 on May 17, 2026, forcing Game 7.
Zach Benson tied the game early in the second period and later scored.
Jack Quinn had two power-play goals while Tage Thompson scored an empty-netter.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen replaced Alex Lyon, stopped all 18 shots and sparked the rally.
Captain Rasmus Dahlin recorded a goal and four assists, the first defenseman with five points in an elimination game.

Summary

Sabres Win

Buffalo won its first playoff game since Game 3 of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals after a performance-based goalie change, capturing 60.7% of faceoffs.
Montreal police warned fans against pyrotechnics as thousands gathered outside the Bell Centre before tip-off.
A watch party at Quebec City’s Videotron Centre attracted thousands watching the Sabres-Canadiens game.
Larry Robinson raised the ceremonial torch, marking the Bell Centre’s first full-capacity crowd since 2015.

History

Historical Context

The Sabres first broke through in 1975, reaching the Stanley Cup Final against the Philadelphia Flyers and losing in six games, a milestone as the first post-expansion team to contest the Cup. After a 14-season playoff drought ending in 2025-26, they forced Game 7 versus the Montreal Canadiens, reviving the resilience first shown in 1975.

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Sabres Force Game 7

Buffalo Sabres beat Montreal Canadiens 8-3 in Game 6 on May 17, 2026, forcing Game 7.
Zach Benson tied the game early in the second period and later scored.
Jack Quinn had two power-play goals while Tage Thompson scored an empty-netter.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen replaced Alex Lyon, stopped all 18 shots and sparked the rally.
Captain Rasmus Dahlin recorded a goal and four assists, the first defenseman with five points in an elimination game.

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