What was the key Canadiens play that swing?

What matters most in Montreal’s Game 5 win

Nick Suzuki scored, and Juraj Slafkovsky contributed with multiple assists as the Canadiens secured a 6-3 victory over Buffalo in Game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead. Montreal’s scoring in stretches—and the way it generated consistent looks rather than single-chance heroics—allowed them to slow Buffalo’s attempts to turn the series.

Why the swing was meaningful

• Center play and chance creation: Suzuki’s goal and playmaking set the tone, while Slafkovsky’s assists added another layer of offense.
• Sustained offensive output: Montreal didn’t rely on one line to carry the scoring; the team produced multiple scoring opportunities across the game.
• Control after a gap in momentum: with Buffalo’s season at stake, Montreal’s ability to maintain the lead made the next game’s stakes even higher.

The result puts the Canadiens one win from moving on, and it turns the next matchup into a decisive test of how well Buffalo can respond to losing a home-series-leaning moment.