Canadiens Game – Alex Newhook’s go-ahead goal and Jakub Dobes’ saves power Montreal past Tampa Bay in Game 7.
Canadiens fans can exhale after Montreal turned a tense, road-heavy Game 7 into a ticket to the second round.
Montreal beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 to win the first-round series 4-3. completing the breakthrough with Alex Newhook scoring the go-ahead goal at 11:07 of the third period.. Jakub Dobes backed it up with 28 saves as the Canadiens held on after a difficult stretch that included just nine shots on goal for the night. in a matchup that refused to open up.
This matters because Game 7 pressure has a way of exposing both talent and resilience, and Montreal’s response is the kind of statement teams make when they truly believe the postseason belongs to them.
The path to this moment was anything but ordinary.. The series featured seven one-goal games and four overtimes. underscoring how evenly matched the two sides were across the opening round.. Even with momentum swinging throughout. Montreal still found ways to stay in it. including surviving a dramatic Game 6 where Tampa Bay came through in overtime at the Bell Centre to stave off elimination.
Meanwhile. special teams played a notable role in the story of Sunday’s finale. with Montreal earning power plays twice even during stretches where it struggled to generate shots.. The Canadiens also posted a rare stat line for their franchise: they went a playoff period without recording a shot on goal for the first time in club history. despite managing a clean enough finish to leave Florida of sorts behind.
That’s a reminder that wins like this are not always about controlling the puck or dominating territory; they’re often about finding the right moment and paying the price in the margins.
With the Lightning now eliminated, attention turns to what’s next: Buffalo, who advanced after defeating the Boston Bruins in six games. The Sabres and Canadiens are set to begin their second-round series in Buffalo on Wednesday, with both clubs built around younger cores and growing confidence.
Buffalo enters as the team in form. having snapped a long playoff drought and captured the Atlantic Division title this season.. Led by captain Rasmus Dahlin and forward Tage Thompson. the Sabres made sure they had an identity in their run past Boston. setting up a matchup that promises the same tight. high-stakes feel Montreal just delivered.
The Canadiens’ reward for a series defined by close calls is simple: the playoffs keep going, and momentum now matters as much as matchups.