Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring for the Buffalo Sabres, but markers from Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield have the Montreal Canadiens ahead 2-1 after the first period of Game 4 of their second-round series.
The Canadiens lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
The Sabres turned to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal for Game 4 after Alex Lyon started in the opening three games of the series.
Defenceman Luke Schenn and forward Konsta Helenius were also added to the lineup for Buffalo.
Samuelsson opened the scoring for the Sabres with his third goal of the playoffs, as he beat Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes at the 6:32 mark of the period.
The Sabres defenceman also began the play with a block in front of his net to start the rush.
Buffalo thought they had a second marker courtesy of Jack Quinn at 8:02. The play was ruled a goal after a lengthy review determined the entire puck crossed the goal line inside Dobes’ glove.
But Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis then won a coach’s challenge for goaltender interference to wipe that marker off the board.
Mike Matheson came close for the Canadiens after the review as he skated in and rang a shot off the crossbar.
Newhook continued his scoring touch as he found some open space in front of the net and converted a pass from Jake Evans to even the score for the Canadiens at 10:08.
The 25-year-old scored twice in Game 2 and twice again in Game 3 and now has six in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Canadiens defenceman Alexandre Carrier took the first penalty of the game when he went to the box for tripping at the 11:28 mark of the period.
After 37 seconds, the power play was negated by a minor penalty to Rasmus Dahlin for interference.
Montreal went to their first full power play at 14:57 when Jason Zucker took a roughing penalty.
With the teams playing 4-on-4 with 41 seconds left in the period, Sabres forward Tage Thompson went to the box for cross-checking.
Caufield made the Sabres pay for the late penalty, driving to the net and burying the puck with 12.2 seconds left to give the Canadiens the lead heading into intermission.
