Fluke goal key to Sabres 3-2 comeback win over Habs in Game 4, series tied 2-2

The Buffalo Sabres evened their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens with a gutsy victory on Tuesday night.

Zach Benson scored the winner and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 28 shots as the Sabres held off the Canadiens 3-2 in an intense Game 4 of long reviews, weird bounces and numerous penalties, tying the second-round playoff matchup at two games apiece.

Mattias Samuelsson and Tage Thompson — on a fortuitous deflection — also scored for Buffalo, as the Sabres responded after dropping Games 2 and 3 by a combined score of 11-3. Josh Doan added two assists, while Thompson had one helper for a two-point night.

Luukkonen stood tall in his first appearance since a Game 2 loss in the opening round against Boston. He replaced Alex Lyon after the back-to-back lopsided defeats.

Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield replied for Montreal, which went 1-for-7 on the power play. Jakub Dobes made 19 saves.

The series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Thursday night before returning to the Bell Centre for Game 6 on Saturday.

Benson put the Sabres ahead 3-2 with a power-play goal 4:41 into the third when he shovelled a backhand past Dobes's glove from the edge of the blue paint while Jake Evans sat in the penalty box for holding.

The Canadiens had failed to capitalize on a four-minute man advantage late in the second into the third period, with Luukkonen denying Ivan Demidov and Nick Suzuki missing the net on a Grade A chance.

Later in the third, Dobes slid across his crease to rob Konsta Helenius on a 2-on-1, dropping his stick to make the save and breathe life into the Bell Centre.

Dobes denied Helenius again with under three minutes left, this time stopping him with the blocker to keep it a one-goal game.

The Canadiens goalie