A surprising Canadiens-Sabres handshake line moment is suddenly going viral
Zach Benson gave Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens a rare playoff image once the fight with Buffalo was finally over.
That is why this moment jumped out so quickly.
After a series full of whistles, scrums, crease traffic, and real bad blood, Benson showed a different side in the handshake line.
However, it was a genuine, heartfelt handshake from a player many Canadiens fans had spent the series branding as one of Buffalo's most aggravating pieces.
That contrast is what made it land. The same player who got under Montreal's skin for days suddenly looked like one of the clearest examples of playoff respect.
And honestly, that is still one of the NHL's best traditions. Players can spend a week slashing, chirping, finishing every hit, and living on pure edge, then shut it off for 30 seconds and show what the series really cost.
Benson's moment fit that perfectly. It reminded everyone that being hard to play against and being classy afterward can still live in the same player.
One of the most surprising moments came from non other than Zach Benson.
After spending most of the series getting under Montreal's skin, Benson showed a completely different side of himself in the handshake line, sharing a genuine and respectful moment with several Canadiens players.
-
Fans can't stop talking about this unexpected moment between the Canadiens and Sabres
The Canadiens organization matched that tone right away.
Instead of flexing after a Game 7 overtime win, Montreal sent out a simple public thank-you to the Sabres for an intense series from start to finish.
Une série enlevante du début à la fin
That is a smart look for Kent Hughes and Geoff Molson, but more than that, it felt authentic. The Canadiens had every excuse to lean into emotion after surviving Buffalo. They chose respect instead.
That matters in a series like this because Buffalo pushed them hard. This was not some clean five-game walk. Montreal had to survive another seven-game fight and earn every inch of the finish.
So the handshake line and the team message both told the same story. The Canadiens won, but they did not act like Buffalo was just another stepping stone.
That is a good sign for what comes next.
Because now the opponent gets even tougher. Carolina is waiting in the Eastern Conference Final, and Montreal will need the same emotional control that showed up after this series ended.
Winning with humility does not score goals. But it does tell you something about the room.
The Canadiens are still young, still learning, and still playing with house money in a lot of people's eyes. Moments like this make them look a little more mature than that.
And Benson deserves some credit too. In a line built for quick taps and quick exits, he managed to leave a lasting image anyway.
Source : Un geste inattendu pendant la poignée de main entre le Canadien et les Sabres fait réagir
|
YESTERDAY
MAY 18, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Zachary Bolduc | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Phillip Danault | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Greenway | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Newhook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Kaiden Guhle | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Beck Malenstyn | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Owen Power | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nick Suzuki | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alexandre Texier | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zach Benson | - | - | - | |
| Bowen Byram | - | - | - | |
| Cole Caufield | - | - | - | |
| Kirby Dach | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Demidov | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||