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Canadiens can advance to Eastern Conference final with win over Sabres tonight

Canadiens can advance to Eastern Conference final with win over Sabres tonight | iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens players celebrate a goal by right wing Ivan Demidov during the third period in Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens can advance to the NHL’s Eastern Conference final tonight with a win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Montreal holds a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven conference semifinal.

Rookie Ivan Demidov scored his first career playoff goal on Thursday to help the Habs beat the Sabres 6-3 in Buffalo, N.Y.

The series winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes, who already swept the Philadelphia Flyers out of the second round of the playoffs.


Defenceman Lane Hutson and captain Nick Suzuki lead Montreal’s offence with 12 points apiece in these playoffs.

Tage Thompson has 11 points for Buffalo.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2026.

Canadiens can advance to Eastern Conference final with win over Sabres tonight | iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Newhook (15) celebrates with teammates Mike Matheson (8), Jake Evans (71) and Ivan Demidov (93) after scoring against the Buffalo Sabres during first period, second round, game 4, NHL playoff hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Canadiens can advance to Eastern Conference final with win over Sabres tonight | iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes watches the puck in traffic during the first period in Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

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