Habs score 4 unanswered goals, dominate Game 3 to take 2-1 series lead over Sabres

Cole Caufield scored his second goal of the playoffs and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 in a dominant Game 3 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.

Alex Newhook had two goals, including an empty-netter, while Zachary Bolduc, Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach also scored for Montreal, the only Canadian team remaining in the post-season.

Lane Hutson and Jake Evans each provided two assists and Jakub Dobes made 26 saves as the Canadiens won consecutive games for the first time these playoffs.

Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin replied with a goal and an assist each for Buffalo, which dropped its first road game of the post-season. Alex Lyon stopped 31 shots in his second straight loss.

The teams split the first two games in Buffalo. The Sabres handed the Canadiens a 4-2 loss in Game 1 before Montreal responded with a 5-1 victory in Game 2.

Game 4 will take place back at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night.

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Minutes after missing an open net, Caufield scored on the power play for his first goal in six games to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead 6:05 into the second, kicking off a wild, four-goal period.

Hutson deked around a stickless Jordan Greenway before laying a pass to the snake-bitten 51-goal scorer, who deposited the puck into the gaping net as the crowd erupted into a boisterous ovation.

The Canadiens appeared to gain a 3-1 lead one minute later when Josh Anderson's backhand trickled through Lyon as Phillip Danault crashed the crease. The officials, however, ruled no goal as jeers rained on a night that featured several questionable calls.

Bolduc ultimately gave the Canadiens a two-goal advantage at 10:43 in the second