The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have delivered incredible drama so far, and the second-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres is officially down to a best-of-three. With the series perfectly tied at 2-2, Game 5 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo is guaranteed to be an explosive showdown.
Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres TV and Streaming Options
Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2026, with puck drop at 7:00 PM EDT.
If you are tuning in from the United States, you can watch the game nationally on ESPN and TNT/truTV. For cord-cutters, streaming is available on ESPN+ and Max (formerly HBO Max).
If you are watching from Canada, the broadcast will be carried nationwide on Sportsnet and CBC. French-language coverage will be broadcast on TVA Sports (TVAS). Streaming in Canada is available via Sportsnet+.
Regional Blackouts Explained: During the regular season, regional blackouts restrict local fans from watching in-market teams on out-of-market streaming platforms (like NHL.tv or ESPN+) to protect local regional sports networks (RSNs). However, during the NHL Playoffs, all games are nationally broadcast. This means standard regional blackouts are lifted. As long as you have access to the national networks carrying the game (ESPN/TNT in the US, Sportsnet/CBC in Canada), you will not face local blackout restrictions for Game 5.
NHL Games Today on TV
Series Record, Last Game Results, and Injuries
The Canadiens currently hold a 6-5 record in these playoffs, while the Sabres sit at 6-4. The momentum has swung wildly in this series. In Game 3, Montreal dominated with a massive 6-2 victory, fueled by Cole Caufield’s scoring touch. However, Buffalo bounced back resiliently in Game 4 on Tuesday, securing a tight 3-2 win to even the series.
Both squads are dealing with significant health issues. Montreal is missing forward Patrik Laine, who remains on Injured Reserve (IR). Buffalo’s depth is being tested with Justin Danforth (IR), and Jiri Kulich (IR) unavailable.
2025-26 Season Leaders & Game 5 Prediction
Looking at the 2025-26 regular season, Montreal’s offense was spearheaded by Nick Suzuki, who tallied an incredible 101 points, and Cole Caufield, who buried 51 goals (88 points). On the other side, Tage Thompson carried Buffalo with 40 goals and 81 points.
Game Score Prediction: The betting odds currently have Buffalo as the favorite at -122, with the Over/Under set at 5.5 goals. Personally, I think we are in for a grueling, tightly-checked battle. With Buffalo stepping up defensively in Game 4, I don’t see another 6-2 blowout happening. I’m putting my money on the Sabres to use the roaring KeyBank Center crowd to their advantage. I predict Buffalo wins 3-2, hitting the under, as goaltending takes center stage tonight.
For fans looking for the Montreal Canadiens on TV today, or checking the full Buffalo Sabres TV schedule, keep an eye on our daily playoff hubs. This 2025-26 season has been truly historic, highlighted by NHL point leaders like Connor McDavid (138 points), Nikita Kucherov (130 points), and Nathan MacKinnon (127 points). Don’t just watch the games—get involved! Be sure to join our online hockey pool for cash prizes on my website and test your predictive skills against other hockey fanatics before the Cup is hoisted.
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