Canadiens – Sabres: Caufield’s two goals, Dobes’ 36 saves lift Montreal 4-2

The Canadiens – Sabres matchup Saturday night delivered a swing in the Atlantic race, with Montreal closing a tight, physical road win in Buffalo. Behind two goals from Cole Caufield and a sharp performance from Jakub Dobes, the Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 at KeyBank Center on Jan. 31, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET), evening the season series and tightening the standings.

For the Sabres, the loss snapped momentum from a strong recent run and left little margin for error in a division where every two points matter. Tage Thompson was active throughout and picked up an assist, but Buffalo couldn’t solve Dobes often enough at five-on-five.

Canadiens – Sabres turns in the third

Montreal trailed 2-1 late in the second period after Buffalo scored twice in the middle frame, but the game flipped after intermission. Caufield tied it early in the third and struck again midway through, turning a one-goal deficit into a 3-2 Canadiens lead.

Buffalo pressed late, but Dobes held firm through traffic and second chances. An empty-net goal in the final minute sealed it, capping a composed finish for Montreal after a shaky stretch in the second period.

Key moments and scoring sequence

The game featured special-teams swings early and a decisive even-strength push late. Montreal opened the scoring on a first-period power play, while Buffalo answered with an even-strength goal and a power-play marker in the second.

Scoring summary (game clock):

The cleanest stretch of Montreal’s night came after the second Caufield goal, when the Canadiens limited the Sabres’ middle-lane looks and forced more point shots than Buffalo wanted.

Dobes steadies the Canadiens

Jakub Dobes was the difference-maker on a night when both teams generated quality chances. Dobes finished with 36 saves on 38 shots, staying compact on in-tight attempts and controlling rebounds well enough to prevent Buffalo from building a sustained net-front scramble.

That steadiness mattered because the Sabres’ game tends to tilt when they can generate chaos around the crease and follow their first shot with two more. Montreal did a better job boxing out in the third, but Dobes also bailed them out during the second-period push when the building tilted hard toward Buffalo.

For Dobes, it was the kind of road performance that can stabilize a team’s results during a heavy stretch of the schedule—especially when games tighten and one soft goal can flip the night.

Tage Thompson and Buffalo’s missed openings

Tage Thompson’s assist on Owen Power’s goal was one of Buffalo’s best moments: a quick play that pulled Montreal’s coverage out of shape and created space at the top of the zone. Thompson also drew attention away from the puck, which opened seams for Buffalo’s defense to step into shots.

Still, the Sabres couldn’t extend the lead when they had it. Their second-period power-play goal gave them control, but the third period lacked the same pace and puck support. Buffalo’s best looks often came from the outside, and when chances did arrive inside the dots, Dobes had answers.

Goaltending and finishing both played a role: Buffalo allowed three goals in the third (including the empty-netter) and didn’t match that surge at the other end.

What it means in the Atlantic race

The result tightened a crowded division picture. Montreal improved to 31-17-7, while Buffalo moved to 31-18-5, leaving just a small gap between the clubs in points. The season series between the Canadiens vs Sabres finished tied 2-2, a detail that can matter later when tie-break math comes into play.

The near-term pressure now sits with Buffalo to rebound quickly, especially with injuries affecting personnel choices and the calendar compressing games into short windows. For Montreal, the win reinforced a simple recipe: structured third periods, timely goals from top scorers, and steady goaltending from Dobes.

Sources consulted: ESPN, NHL.com, Reuters, Associated Press