Caufield scores twice in 3rd as Canadiens rally past Sabres

Montreal comes back from 2-1 deficit to defeat Buffalo 4-2

Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:31pm

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Cole Caufield scored two goals in the third period to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-2 comeback victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Nick Suzuki had two assists for the Canadiens, who have won three straight games. Owen Power and Noah Ostlund scored for the Sabres, whose five-game winning streak was snapped.

Why it matters

The Canadiens' comeback win over the Sabres was an important result in the tight race for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are currently in the top half of the standings, so this game could have implications for their postseason hopes later in the season.

The details

The Sabres took a 2-1 lead in the second period on goals from Owen Power and Noah Ostlund, but Caufield scored twice in the third to give the Canadiens the victory. Juraj Slafkovsky and Oliver Kapanen also scored for Montreal, while Jakub Dobes made 36 saves. Alex Lyon stopped 27 shots for Buffalo.

  • The game was played on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
  • Slafkovsky gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead in the first period at 11:20.
  • Power tied the game 1-1 for the Sabres in the second period at 7:36.
  • Ostlund put Buffalo ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal at 18:57 of the second period.
  • Caufield scored the tying goal for Montreal at 4:14 of the third period and the go-ahead goal at 10:13 of the third period.

The players

Cole Caufield

A 24-year-old forward for the Montreal Canadiens who scored two goals in the third period to lead his team to victory.

Nick Suzuki

The 23-year-old center for the Canadiens who had two assists in the game.

Owen Power

The 21-year-old defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who scored a goal to tie the game 1-1 in the second period.

Noah Ostlund

The 19-year-old forward for the Sabres who scored a power-play goal to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead in the second period.

Jakub Dobes

The 22-year-old goaltender for the Canadiens who made 36 saves in the win.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong in the third period and that's exactly what we did. Caufield really stepped up and made some big plays for us.”

— Nick Suzuki, Center, Montreal Canadiens (NHL.com)

“It's tough to have our winning streak snapped, but we'll regroup and get ready for our next game. We had our chances, but Dobes played well in net for them.”

— Owen Power, Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Canadiens will look to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, February 4th. The Sabres will try to start a new winning streak when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, February 6th.

The takeaway

This game showcased the offensive firepower and resilience of the Montreal Canadiens, who were able to rally from a one-goal deficit in the third period to defeat the surging Buffalo Sabres. Caufield's two-goal performance was the difference-maker, demonstrating why he is considered one of the top young talents in the NHL.