Benson Boon Buried the Go-Ahead Goal and Buffalo Just Evened Up the East Second Round

The Buffalo Sabres are still alive. Down and nearly out, they clawed back on the road in Montreal with Benson Boon scoring the go-ahead goal in the third period, forcing a Game 5 and tying the second round series at 2-2. This is exactly the kind of desperate, resilient hockey that keeps a season breathing when it's gasping for air.

Power Play Explosion Decides It

Both teams came to play on May 12, but the special teams battle tilted hard toward Buffalo. Boon's backhand shot from the doorstep on the power play proved to be the difference maker, giving the Sabres the edge they needed to steal one in Montreal. The Canadiens weren't going away quietly though. Late in the first period, Cole Caufield whipped in a wrister for a power-play goal to get Montreal on the board early. Then things got weird in the second when Thompson got an insane bounce off the glass for an equalizer on the power play. That's the kind of hockey luck that can swing momentum in the playoffs.

Montreal Kept Fighting Back

The Canadiens showed serious composure throughout. Christoph Helenius got robbed on the rush by Dobes early on, but Montreal kept creating chances. Josh Anderson and Jesperi Koivainen combined on a play that saw Caufield score his power-play goal in the first. Later, Evans set up Newhook to tie things up again after Sabres defenseman Rasmus Samuelsson had capped off a slick play with a one-timer to break the ice early.

But Boon's third-period power-play goal was the dagger. Buffalo needed this one desperately, and they got it on the road. The series heads back to Buffalo with everything on the line. This isn't over, not by a long shot, and whoever wants to advance to the Eastern Final is going to have to earn it in Game 5.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.