Sabres rally to beat the Canadiens 8-3 to force Game 7

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Buffalo Sabres' Konsta Helenius (94) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres' Jason Zucker (17) celebrates a goal by teammate Konsta Helenius in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the second period in Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) — Buffalo Sabres' Konsta Helenius (94) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

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8:00 PM on Saturday, May 16

The Associated Press

MONTREAL (AP) — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves after starter Alex Lyon stopped only one of the four shots he faced, and the Buffalo Sabres roared back to beat the Montreal Canadiens 8-3 on Saturday night and force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The winner Monday night in Buffalo will face Carolina for the conference title and a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes swept both of their series, last playing May 9.

The Sabres came back after trailing 3-1 midway through the first period.

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and four assists, Jack Quinn scored twice and added an assist and Tage Thompson had three assists and an empty-net goal. Zach Benson and Jack Quinn each had a goal and an assist and Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also scored.

Arber Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans scored for Montreal, which won a Game 7 at Tampa Bay in the first round. Jakub Dobes stopped 27 of 33 shots, and Jacob Fowler made a save and allowed a goal in relief.

After Dahlin opened the scoring 32 seconds in, Montreal chased Lyon with the three-goal burst.

Xhekaj tied it at 1:40, Demidov scored on a power play at 8:12 and Evans made it 3-1 on a short-handed break with 9:46 left. Luukkonen then took over in goal, and Zucker got one back for Buffalo on a power play with 6:04 to go in the period.

Benson tied it a minute into the second, slipping in a short backhander from the left side. Quinn put Buffalo ahead on a power play with 9:06 left in the second, slapping a one-timer from the top of the right circle past Dobes. Helenius made it 5-3 with 7:01 remaining in the period, striking from short range.

Quinn added his second of the night on a power play midway through the third. Thompson scored into the empty net, and Metsa capped the scoring on a late power play.

Buffalo was 4 for 6 on the power play. Montreal was 1 for 3.

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