Sabres 'blend in well with this city' in blue-collar Buffalo Game 1 win over Canadiens

The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in Game 1 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals on Wednesday, May 7, 2026, in Buffalo. The Sabres jumped out to an early lead and controlled the game throughout, earning their most complete home performance of the playoffs. The win puts Buffalo in a strong position in the series against Montreal.