What happened
ESPN posted that Zach Benson flipped the puck in to give the Buffalo Sabres a third-period lead in Game 4 of their second-round series. The goal came with Buffalo trying to answer after consecutive losses and facing a 2-1 series deficit entering Tuesday night in Montreal.
Why it matters
The moment mattered because Buffalo needed a response after a 5-1 loss in Game 2 and a 6-2 loss in Game 3. It also landed in a swing game for a series that had turned after the Sabres opened the matchup with a Game 1 win, while betting markets had moved toward Montreal before Game 4.
The data edge
Series entering Game 4: Montreal led 2-1. Recent results: Sabres won Game 1, 4-2; Montreal won Game 2, 5-1; Montreal won Game 3, 6-2. Betting market context: Montreal moved from roughly -125/-130 to -144 before Game 4, according to New York Post odds reporting. Benson had scored in Game 2 and earlier in Buffalo's first-round series against Boston.
What to watch
Watch for the final result of Game 4 and whether Buffalo can turn Benson's goal into a series-tying win. The next checkpoint is Game 5 on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Buffalo.