Alex Newhook notched his first two-goal postseason performance for the Montreal Canadiens, who evened their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the host Buffalo Sabres after a decisive 5-1 victory in Game 2 on Friday.
The Canadiens now hold home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series as they head to Montreal for Game 3 on Sunday.
Newhook has tallied three goals this postseason for Montreal, while Nick Suzuki sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 4:01 of the third period, extending his goal-scoring streak to three games. Five of Montreal’s six defensemen contributed points, with Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier scoring their first career playoff goals, and Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, and Noah Dobson each recording an assist.
May 8, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) makes a blocker save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 2 of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes rebounded from a subpar Game 1 outing, turning aside 27 shots for the victory.
Zach Benson scored his third playoff goal for the Sabres, with assists from Conor Timmins and Josh Doan.
Buffalo goaltender Alex Lyon endured his roughest game of the playoffs, allowing four goals on 27 shots.
Montreal struck just 96 seconds into the game when Newhook tipped Guhle’s shot from the slot past Lyon. Less than three minutes later, Matheson doubled the lead after Phillip Danault won an offensive-zone faceoff, and the puck found its way to the defenseman, who ripped a shot from the blue line that deflected off the post and in.
Newhook, who entered Friday with only three goals in 40 career Stanley Cup playoff games, struck again with 15:13 left in the second period. On a 2-on-2 rush with Jake Evans, Newhook got around defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and beat Lyon before the goaltender could reset.
Buffalo pulled within one in the final minute of the second period, as Benson redirected Timmins’ shot from the right circle past Dobes.
Montreal regained control early in the third period, when Carrier intercepted a Tage Thompson turnover in the defensive zone and skated in alone, scoring an unassisted goal to seal the win.
