The Eastern Conference Semi-Finals are heating up as the Buffalo Sabres head into the hostile territory of the Centre Bell to face the Montreal Canadiens for Game 3. With the series perfectly tied at 1-1, Sunday night’s clash is shaping up to be a pivotal momentum-shifter in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.
Here is your complete guide on how to catch the action, recent team records, betting odds, and what to expect on the ice.
TV Channels, Streaming Options, and Start Time
Puck drop for Game 3 is officially scheduled for Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM EDT.
In the USA: American fans can watch the game nationally on ESPN. If you prefer to stream, the game will be available live via ESPN+ and the ESPN app (cable login required for the standard network broadcast).
In Canada: Canadian viewers have multiple options. The English broadcast will be carried nationwide on Sportsnet and CBC. French-language coverage will be broadcast on TVA Sports. Cord-cutters can stream the game seamlessly using Sportsnet+.
Regional Blackouts Explained
If you are streaming NHL games, you might be familiar with the dreaded regional blackout. Standard NHL blackout rules are designed to protect local regional sports networks (RSNs). However, because we are in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, these games are nationally televised exclusive broadcasts. This means that regional blackouts are lifted for both US and Canadian national broadcasts. If you have ESPN in the States or Sportsnet/CBC in Canada, you will not be blacked out from watching Game 3.
Series Record, Last Game Results, and Playoff Records
The Sabres and Canadiens have traded blows so far in this tightly contested series.
- Game 1: The Sabres thrilled the KeyBank Center crowd with a 4-2 victory, capitalizing on early special teams advantages.
- Game 2: Montreal struck back with a vengeance on Friday, May 8, securing a dominant 5-1 win over Buffalo to even the series. Alex Newhook tallied two goals, while Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobeš put up a wall, making 28 saves with an incredible .966 save percentage.
Overall in the 2026 playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres sit at a 5-3 record (having dispatched the Boston Bruins 4-2 in the opening round). The Canadiens, riding high on their home-ice return, also sit at 5-3, looking to leverage the deafening Centre Bell crowd.
Leading Scorers & Key Injuries
Both teams have relied heavily on their top guns during the 2025-26 season.
- Buffalo Sabres: Tage Thompson remains Buffalo’s driving force, having finished the regular season leading the team in goals and points, with Rasmus Dahlin anchoring the blue line as their top assist man.
- Montreal Canadiens: Captain Nick Suzuki and sharpshooter Cole Caufield topped the Canadiens’ score sheets this year. Suzuki has continued his hot streak, winning critical faceoffs and pacing the offense.
Key Injuries: Buffalo will be missing Mattias Samuelsson on defense (upper-body, day-to-day), which weakens their physical presence. Montreal is relatively healthy but is resting a depth forward, Christian Dvorak, due to a nagging lower-body issue.
Betting Odds & My Game 3 Prediction
As we look toward Game 3, the sportsbooks are leaning toward the home team. The current betting odds have Montreal -122 as the moneyline favorite, with the Over/Under set at 5.5 goals.
Personally, I think the Canadiens have captured lightning in a bottle following their 5-1 thrashing in Game 2. While Tage Thompson and the Sabres are desperate to reclaim home-ice advantage, the atmosphere at the Centre Bell during the playoffs is unmatched. I’m looking at Montreal’s aggressive forecheck to overwhelm Buffalo’s defense early. I predict a gritty, physical game where the Canadiens win 4-2, making the Under (5.5) a terrifying sweat but ultimately hitting the over on an empty-netter.
If you need more resources, you can always find information regarding finding the Buffalo Sabres on TV today, the complete Montreal Canadiens TV schedule, the overall NHL point leaders 2025-26 season, and our out online hockey pool for cash prizes on my website.
