Montreal’s recent 6‑2 win over Buffalo snapped a historic streak of alternating results, ending the longest such pattern in NHL playoff history. Alex Newhook’s double and Cole Caufield’s goal‑assist powered the Canadiens, who now trail the Sabres 3‑1 in the second‑round series and aim for a game‑four sweep ahead of the decisive clash.

Scouting reports flag Alex Tuch as a prime betting target; the 30‑year‑old right‑wing has four goals in the postseason but none against Montreal yet. With Buffalo limited to three goals in its last two outings, analysts expect Tuch to break the team’s recent slump and find the net in Game 4 as the series balances.

Josh Doan has returned to form, logging an assist in each of his last five games after a quiet start. His four‑game streak is likely to continue in Game 4, while Ducks’ defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who has nine assists in the playoffs, is poised to avoid a first‑round dry spell and spark Anaheim’s offense in Game 5.

With the Canadiens riding momentum and the Sabres scrambling to regain fire, Tuesday’s matchups will test depth and clutch performance. Betting lines favor Tuch and Doan, but the outcome hinges on the Sabres’ goaltending shift to Luukkonen and the Ducks’ ability to sustain pressure against a resilient Golden Knights defense in the high‑stakes playoff.