What happened
Tage Thompson tied Game 4 of the Sabres-Canadiens series by scoring on a long-range attempt that caromed off the boards from mid-ice. ESPN's broadcast highlighted the unusual angle and bounce, with the goal beating the Montreal netminder on a play a courtside post called "really unfortunate" for the goaltender. Thompson, who also opened the scoring inside the first minute of Game 3, continues to drive Buffalo's offense in this series.
Why it matters
Game 4 is a hinge point in any playoff series, and a tying goal from a top-line forward shifts momentum and shortens the path to a Sabres lead. Thompson stacking goals across games hardens his role as Buffalo's primary scoring threat against Montreal. The bounce-off-the-boards nature of the goal will also feed the goaltending narrative around the Canadiens crease heading into the late stages.
What to watch
Watch whether Buffalo builds on the equalizer to take a Game 4 lead, and how Montreal's bench responds after a soft-looking goal against. The series score after tonight sets the leverage for the next game.