What happened
Tage Thompson put Buffalo ahead less than a minute into Game 3 against Montreal, giving the Sabres an immediate 1-0 edge on the road. The goal came as the Eastern Conference second-round series shifted to Bell Centre with the matchup tied 1-1.
Why it matters
Game 3 carries outsized weight in a tied playoff series, with CBS Sports noting teams that take a 2-1 lead go on to win the series 68.9% of the time. The quick strike also flipped the script from Game 2, when Montreal jumped on Buffalo early and rolled to a 5-1 win.
The data edge
Series: tied 1-1 entering Game 3; Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal; 2025-26 records: Buffalo Sabres 50-23-9 (109 points, 1st in Atlantic), Montreal Canadiens 48-24-10 (106 points, 3rd in Atlantic); Pre-game odds: Canadiens -125, Sabres +105, total 5.5; Tage Thompson 2025-26 regular season: 40 goals, 41 assists, 81 points in 81 games; Thompson 2026 playoffs entering Game 3: 2 goals and 5 assists in 8 games.
What to watch
Watch whether Buffalo can build on the fast start after Montreal controlled most of Game 2. The next swing point is whether the Canadiens answer quickly at home or let the Sabres dictate pace in a series now deep into its first pivotal road game.