Greg WyshynskiMay 13, 2026, 12:13 AM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Tage Thompson evens the score with a power-play goal for Sabres (0:25)Tage Thompson notches goal on the power play (0:25)
A freakish bounce off the boards turned his routine play into the most pivotal goal of Buffalo’s Game 4 win, which evened the playoff series at 2 on Tuesday night in Montreal.
During a second-period power play, Thompson shot the puck from center ice around the boards to get his team set up in the attacking zone. The puck deflected off a corner of the glass near the Zamboni entrance door and ricocheted directly off the top of Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes’ right pad and into the net to tie the game at 2 in shocking fashion.
“I obviously saw it hit the glass,” Thompson said. “I was kind of just scanning around, looking for a few guys to put their hands up [in celebration]. It’s a nice feeling when you see that.”
Buffalo forward Zach Benson, who scored on the power play in the third period to give the Sabres the lead, acknowledged how vital Thompson’s fluke goal was for the eventual win.
“You need those bounces, come playoff time. And it was a big goal for us,” said Benson, who celebrated his 21st birthday with the game-winner.
The goal gave the Sabres new life in a game that saw the momentum having swung to the Canadiens, starting with a controversial coach’s challenge goal reversal in the first period.
From there, it was goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who closed the deal. He last played April 21 in a Game 2 loss to the Boston Bruins, after which goalie Alex Lyon took the crease. Lyon gave up nine goals in his last two games to Montreal, and Luukkonen was back in for Game 4, making 28 strong saves.
“‘Upi’ made so many big saves tonight that we really needed in key moments,” Benson said. “So all the credit goes to him. He was the biggest reason why we walked out of this building with a win.”
Just like in Game 3, the Sabres scored the opening goal at Bell Centre, this time from defenseman Mattias Samuelsson at 6:32 of the first period. But this time it appeared the Sabres had taken a 2-0 lead as the NHL Situation Room determined that Jack Quinn’s shot entered the Montreal net while it was in the webbing of Dobes’s glove. But then Montreal initiated a coach’s challenge for goaltender interference, and video review determined Buffalo’s Konsta Helenius interfered with Dobes and impaired his ability to play his position. The goal was disallowed at 8:02 of the first period.
Tage Thompson evens the score with a power-play goal for Sabres (0:25)Tage Thompson notches goal on the power play (0:25)
Greg WyshynskiMay 13, 2026, 12:13 AM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson was just trying to get the puck into the Montreal Canadiens zone.
Buffalo went on to win 3-2, leaving Bell Centre with a split.
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis was asked what the difference was in their Game 4 loss.
“The difference … it’s a fine line, right?” he said. “They get a goal off the door there. The stanchion. Whatever. Is that the difference? I don’t know.”
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff saw the play differently than the NHL and its officials.
Tage Thompson notches goal on the power play (0:25)
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on X