Tage Thompson's fluke goal pivotal to Sabres' Game 4 win - ESPN

Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson was just trying to get the puck into the Montreal Canadiens' zone.

A freakish bounce off the boards turned his routine play into the most pivotal goal of Buffalo's Game 4 win evening the playoff series at 2-2 on Tuesday night in Montreal.

During a second-period power play, Thompson shot the puck from center ice around the boards to get his team set up in the attacking zone. The puck deflected off a corner of the glass near the Zamboni entrance door and ricocheted directly off the top of Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes' right pad and into the net to tie the score at 2-2 in shocking fashion.

Buffalo went on to win 3-2, leaving Bell Centre with a split.

«I obviously saw it hit the glass,» Thompson said. «I was kind of just scanning around, looking for a few guys to put their hands up [in celebration]. It's a nice feeling when you see that.»

Buffalo forward Zach Benson, who scored on the power play in the third period to give the Sabres the lead, acknowledged how vital Thompson's fluke goal was for the eventual win.

«You need those bounces, come playoff time. And it was a big goal for us,» said Benson, who celebrated his 21st birthday with the game winner.

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis was asked what the difference was in their Game 4 loss.

«The difference… it's a fine line, right?» he said. «They get a goal off the door there. The stanchion. Whatever. Is that the difference? I don't know.»

The goal gave the Sabres new life in a game that saw the momentum having swung to the Canadiens, starting with a controversial coach's challenge goal reversal in the first period.

Just as in Game 3, the Sabres scored the opening goal at Bell Centre, this time from defenseman Mattias Samuelsson at 6:32 of