Canadiens vs – Tampa Bay forced a Game 7 with an overtime win as Vasilevskiy’s playoff shutout kept Montreal at bay in Game 6.
Tampa Bay’s Lightning turned a tense Game 6 into a series swing, stunning the Canadiens in overtime to force a deciding Game 7.
Misryoum reports that Gage Goncalves fired the winner 9:03 into extra time. lifting the Lightning to a 1-0 victory and leveling the best-of-seven at 3-3.. With Montreal’s crowd roaring through the Bell Centre. Tampa Bay protected the lead in the most dramatic way possible after enduring four overtime periods already across the series.
The goal felt inevitable once the play turned in Tampa Bay’s favor during overtime. with Goncalves crashing the crease after earlier near-misses.. Behind him. Andrei Vasilevskiy delivered the kind of postseason performance coaches dream about. sealing the shutout with key stops. including multiple moments that prevented Montreal from getting the finish it was hunting.
This is the kind of result that reshapes a series fast: after trading momentum all week, a single overtime swing is now the difference between a first-round exit and a chance to keep building.
Montreal’s Jakub Dobes also kept the Canadiens in it. making 32 saves as the series shifted back to Tampa for Game 7.. Misryoum notes that Montreal’s push during the later stages of regulation and into overtime was relentless. highlighted by late power-play opportunities and desperation efforts to break through.
One of the turning points came when Montreal earned time with the man advantage in overtime after a trip on Alexandre Carrier.. Vasilevskiy. however. was unshaken. denying Lane Hutson and then holding firm as Montreal threatened again. including chances that followed a defensive breakdown involving Nick Suzuki.
Misryoum adds that the physicality and intensity never faded, with special-teams moments and late power-play pressure repeatedly flipping the balance. Even when Montreal looked set to land the punch, the Lightning’s defense and goaltending absorbed the storm.
With the series now tied and Game 7 waiting, this matchup has become a showcase of nerves and execution. Misryoum understands that the deciding game rarely resembles the rest of the series, but it rewards the teams that can win the small battles first.