Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson celebrated his birthday in style, scoring the tie-breaking goal to lead his team to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday night. The win evens the series at 2-2 as the action shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5.
Key Moments
Benson's decisive goal came midway through the second period, capitalizing on a scramble in front of Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes. Tage Thompson also found the back of the net for the Sabres, while defenseman Rasmus Dahlin added a key assist. The Canadiens fought back with goals from Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, but Buffalo's defense held firm in the third period to secure the win.
Goaltending Duel
Sabres netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves, including several crucial stops in the final frame to preserve the lead. Dobes, starting in place of an injured Samuel Montembeault, stopped 24 of 27 shots but could not prevent the loss.
Series Outlook
The series now becomes a best-of-three, with Game 5 scheduled for Thursday in Buffalo. The Sabres will look to build on their home-ice advantage, while the Canadiens aim to regain momentum after dropping two consecutive games.
