Montreal took a 4-3 shootout decision over Buffalo at Centre Bell, turning a tied game after regulation into a home victory. The result put the Canadiens on the winning side of a one-goal final in their Oct. 13 NHL matchup with the Sabres.
How the Game Played Out
The scoreline was level through the three regulation periods, leaving the game to be decided by a shootout. That sequence is the central shape of the night: neither team settled the result in regulation, and the contest required the NHL tiebreak to separate Montreal and Buffalo. The final score records a narrow Canadiens win, with the shootout providing the decisive edge.
The period-by-period score was not part of the confirmed game record, so the regulation portion is best captured by what the final outcome establishes: the teams remained even after 60 minutes. There is no verified period scoring sequence to add to that account. The 4-3 final, paired with the shootout outcome, gives the matchup a clear endpoint without changing the underlying fact that the game was still tied at the end of regulation.
For Montreal, that distinction matters to the result at Centre Bell. The Canadiens finished the night with the win, while Buffalo left with the loss, and the shootout made the difference after regulation had not produced a winner. A one-goal final reflects how closely the result was decided; it does not, by itself, describe how scoring was distributed across the game. What is certain is that Montreal came away with the decision and Buffalo was on the other side of it.
What the Result Means
The confirmed implication is straightforward: Montreal added a home win, and Buffalo took a road loss in this NHL meeting. The result is attached to the 2026-27 season schedule and came at Centre Bell, where Montreal was listed as the home team. Beyond that immediate outcome, the available game facts do not establish either club’s place in the standings or a longer-term change in trajectory.
A shootout finish also gives the score a distinct context. The 4-3 margin was the final result, but the game was not decided within regulation. For the Canadiens, the useful entry in the schedule is a victory; for the Sabres, it is a defeat after the contest remained tied through three periods. The teams will carry those results into their next scheduled games, with this meeting now settled in Montreal’s favor.
Watch the Highlights
The NHL’s highlights package provides a video look at the Canadiens-Sabres matchup from Centre Bell. Watch the recap below for the game’s visual summary and the confirmed shootout finish.
Final Score: Montreal Canadiens 4, Buffalo Sabres 3.
Final Score: Montreal Canadiens 4, Buffalo Sabres 3.
Source: youtube