Sports
Sabres, Habs knotted at a game apiece as series heads north
May 8, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Montréal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) clears the puck as Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) defends during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images The Buffalo Sabres know they have to be much better with the puck Sunday night as their second-round series shifts north to Montreal for Game 3, all square at one game apiece with the Canadiens.
The Sabres played a heavy game against Montreal in Game 2 Friday night, but it was to no avail as the Canadiens blew out the Atlantic Division champs 5-1.
Buffalo dished out 44 hits on the red-white-and-blue-clad Habs, who returned just 18. Mattias Samuelsson recorded a game-high 10, while Tage Thompson had six.
Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky said most of the 44 were a little late.
“I feel like all of their hits happen after the plays,” the top-line winger said. “Especially me, I mean, I made a play, and then, three seconds after, I got hit. … Sometimes, you’ve got to take a hit to make a play.”
Thompson played badly in the loss: He gridded at minus-4 and turned the puck over by simply falling to the ice, leading to Alexandre Carrier’s third-period goal that made the 4-1 lead insurmountable.
“I just wasn’t executing,” said Thompson. “I think everything I touched turned into disaster tonight. So, tough one. I’ve got to be better.”
Added Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff: “Three or four of the goals were just the result bad puck play. You just can’t beat yourself.”
Coach Martin St. Louis and his Habs trek back home to Quebec with all the momentum after wresting home-ice advantage from the Sabres after their 109-point season, second only to the Carolina Hurricanes’ 113 in a standout showing by the Eastern Conference.
Alex Newhook and Mike Matheson tallied within the first five minutes of Game 2, scoring less than three minutes apart as Buffalo’s defense and goaltender Alex Lyon collapsed. Newhook added another early in the second.
It was the start the Habs needed to even the series and carry momentum home after an exhausting first-round win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
Goalie Jakub Dobes, outstanding in stopping 181 of 196 shots (.923 save percentage) against the Lightning, denied 28 of 29 against the Sabres on Friday.
The Czech goaltender said the whole squad was inspired by an “unbelievable” pregame speech by St. Louis but would not reveal its nature.
However, second-line center Jake Evans spilled the beans.
“He just said it’s going to be a war out there and we’ve got to play like it,” Evans told Sportsnet. “I don’t know if it was meant to be more physical, but we were all just (mentally) dialed in from the start.”
Montreal countered by holding a blocked-shot edge, 18-11, with defensemen Noah Dobson and Matheson posting nearly half of them with five and three, respectively.
Matheson’s tally was the game-winning one, but the 2012 first-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers (23rd overall) said Dobes was typically instrumental.
“He brings a lot of energy to our team,” said Matheson, a Pointe-Claire, Que., native who has one goal, one assist and 12 penalty minutes in nine playoff matches this postseason. “He kind of exudes a lot of swagger into our lineup.”
The Sabres’ Sam Carrick, out with an arm injury after fighting New York Islanders captain Anders Lee on March 31, is “on the cusp,” according to Ruff, of slotting back in following a return to practice Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dynamo carry positive momentum into showdown at LAFC
Feb 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo FC forward Guilherme (20) and Los Angeles FC midfielder Stephen Eustaquio (46) battle for the ball during the second half at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The Houston Dynamo have recovered from a slow start and look to win for the fourth time in five MLS matches when they visit Los Angeles FC on Sunday night.
Houston has recorded three 1-0 victories during the stretch and has allowed two goals during the span, which began after it was walloped 6-2 by the host Colorado Rapids on April 11.
The Dynamo (5-5-0, 15 points) were a vastly different team in the rematch in Houston on May 2, allowing just two shots on target in the one-goal victory as Jonathan Bond recorded his third shutout of the season.
“Last game, I felt that was our best performance,” Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said. “The technical side, the group defense, the tactical side. … I thought it was a step in the right direction to get closer to what we’re going to be.”
Lawrence Ennali scored his third goal of the season in the 72nd minute. He ripped a right-footed blast from well beyond the box into the upper portion of the net.
“Never scored a goal like that before,” Ennali said. “I hope there are many more to come.”
Guilherme, a midfielder, leads Houston with five goals.
Los Angeles FC (6-2-3, 21 points) defeated the Dynamo 2-0 in Houston on Feb. 28 with Mark Delgado scoring in the 56th minute and Stephen Eustaquio tacking on another in the 82nd minute. The Dynamo finished the match with just nine players as Antonio Carlos drew a red card in the second minute of first-half stoppage time and Agustin Bouzat was shown red in the 76th minute.
LAFC was outscored 4-0 by host Toluca FC on Wednesday to fall by a 5-2 aggregate score and be eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.
The match on Wednesday was scoreless until Toluca scored four second-half goals.
“We played eight (Champions Cup) games and we were excellent until the second half,” LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos said. “So in the whole competition we played one bad really half and it was the second half. …
“We can learn a lot from this. We’ve got to be strong because Sunday we play again.”
Los Angeles will be without star forward Denis Bouanga, who was suspended for the match due to yellow-card accumulation. Bouanga leads LAFC with five goals.
LAFC scored two late goals to gain a 2-2 draw with host San Diego FC on May 2. Bouanga scored in the 82nd minute and Ryan Hollingshead scored the equalizer in the 14th and final minute of second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros place LHP Bennett Sousa (elbow) on injured list
Aug 19, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Bennett Sousa (62) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images The Houston Astros placed left-hander Bennett Sousa on the 15-day injured list Saturday and recalled right-hander Jayden Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land.
Sousa is dealing with left elbow inflammation and his IL move is retroactive to Wednesday.
Sousa, 31, has an 8.10 ERA in five relief appearances this season. He is 8-1 with a 4.54 ERA in parts of four major league seasons for three teams, including the Astros since 2023.
Murray, 29, had a 6.00 ERA in four relief appearances earlier this season and has a 3.06 ERA in 13 career games (one start) since making his major league debut last season.
The Astros also claimed outfielder Rhylan Thomas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners and optioned him to Sugar Land. Right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Brewers place OF Brandon Lockridge (leg) on IL
Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Brandon Lockridge (20) is carted off the field after being injured during the fourth inning of their game against the New York Yankees Friday, May 8, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Brewers placed outfielder Brandon Lockridge on the 10-day injured list, while outfielder Blake Perkins was recalled from Triple-A Nashville, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Saturday.
Lockridge, 29, was injured when he slid into the wall in foul territory during the fourth inning of Friday’s game against the New York Yankees. X-rays were negative but he was diagnosed with a laceration down to the bone.
Lockridge was batting .294 with four doubles and 12 RBIs in 28 games this season. In three seasons with the San Diego Padres and Brewers he is a career .251 hitter with one home run and 24 RBIs in 107 games.
Perkins, 29, was 5-for-46 (.109) in 19 games with the Brewers before he was optioned to Nashville on Monday. In four seasons with Milwaukee, Perkins is a career .224 hitter with 13 home runs and 87 RBIs in 261 games.
–Field Level Media
Dynamo carry positive momentum into showdown at LAFC
Astros place LHP Bennett Sousa (elbow) on injured list
