The Montreal Canadiens' grip on a secure playoff spot is suddenly looking precarious after a pair of decisive losses to Atlantic Division rivals this past week. The team's momentum has been halted by a 5-3 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, January 15, 2026, followed by a 4-0 shutout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Thompson's Dominance and a Costly Collapse in Buffalo
The week's troubles were highlighted in Buffalo, where Sabres' star Tage Thompson recorded a hat trick to lead his team to victory. The Canadiens, with rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler in net for both contests, showed flashes of promise but ultimately couldn't sustain a full-game effort.
Montreal started strong against the Sabres at KeyBank Center, with Cole Caufield ending a four-game scoring drought with an early goal. The power play, reinvigorated by the return of Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov to the top unit, responded twice. Demidov's goal marked his 40th point of his rookie season, while Hutson's assist was the 100th of his young career, making him the second-fastest NHL defenseman to reach that milestone. Nick Suzuki added another power-play goal to give Montreal a 3-2 lead in the second period.
However, the game unraveled from there. Buffalo's Alex Tuch tied the score, and the third period belonged entirely to the Sabres. A series of defensive breakdowns led to Thompson's second goal, giving Buffalo the lead, and he completed his hat trick into an empty net to seal the 5-3 final.
A Broader Pattern of Missed Opportunities
These losses are part of a concerning trend for the Canadiens. Over their last three games against Eastern Conference playoff contenders—Detroit, Washington, and Buffalo—the team has failed to secure a single point. This comes on the heels of a successful road trip that had them eyeing the top of the conference standings.
The immediate consequences are clear in the Atlantic Division landscape. While Montreal remains in third place, the surging Toronto Maple Leafs (7-1-2 in last 10) and the red-hot Sabres (15 wins in last 17 games) are closing in rapidly. The six-point cushion over Toronto now feels much less secure.
Fan Reaction and Team Concerns
The frustration was palpable among the fanbase, as reflected in comments from a live blog during the game. Critics pointed to a lack of consistent intensity, with one noting the team "played a good 30 minutes and slept for the other 30." Other comments questioned the effectiveness of certain veteran players and the team's overall grit in crucial matchups.
On the ice, missed chances proved costly. In the Buffalo game, Alexandre Texier was denied a goal when his shot hit the crossbar and landed on, but did not cross, the goal line. Such fine margins are often the difference in tightly contested playoff races.
With the playoff race intensifying, the Canadiens must quickly address their recent inconsistencies. The losses to direct rivals have thrown them back into the crowded and volatile wild-card scramble, a position they worked hard to escape earlier in the season. The team's ability to respond to this adversity will define their trajectory over the final stretch of the schedule.
