Stanley Cup – Montreal edged Tampa Bay in a Game 7 thriller to reach the second round, while Colorado took the early lead in its series.
Montreal’s Stanley Cup Playoffs run took another dramatic turn as the Canadiens survived a tense Game 7 to knock out the Tampa Bay Lightning and secure a second-round spot.
In Sunday’s deciding matchup. the Canadiens won 2-1 to take the series 4-3. sending them forward for the first time in five years.. Montreal’s offense produced little throughout parts of the game. but Jakub Dobes delivered in goal. keeping Tampa Bay at bay when the pressure peaked.. Nick Suzuki gave the Canadiens an early lead. Dominic James answered to level the contest in the middle frame. then Alex Newhook scored the go-ahead goal in the third to settle the outcome.
This is a reminder that in the playoffs, momentum can swing on a single performance, and goaltending often turns tight games into defining moments for entire series.
Meanwhile, the night also delivered a high-tempo start in Colorado’s series against Minnesota.. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 9-6 to claim a 1-0 series lead. with Sunday’s game going well beyond a typical first-round script.. Colorado built early momentum with three goals in the opening period. including strikes from Sam Malinski. Jack Drury. and Artturi Lehkonen. before Minnesota responded with a quick burst that narrowed the gap.
The scoring stayed chaotic as Colorado added more in the second period and Minnesota continued to claw back. including goals that helped swing the scoreboard multiple times.. When the game entered the final stretch. the Avalanche managed to keep their edge. with Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri helping push the lead back up. before late tallies from Colorado sealed it.
With a combined flood of goals and one of the most eventful first acts of the playoffs, Colorado’s early advantage is as much about momentum as it is about execution, and it sets a demanding tone for Game 2.
Looking ahead to Monday, the schedule moves straight into the next set of first-round matchups.. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m.. ET, with Carolina holding the lead in the series at 1-0.. Later, the Anaheim Ducks take on the Vegas Golden Knights at 9:30 p.m.. ET, beginning Game 1 in that matchup.
For fans, Monday’s slate is a chance for the next teams to seize control, especially as the playoffs shift from surviving elimination to building a path deeper into the bracket.
As these series narrow and every shift matters, Misryoum will keep tracking how teams respond after Game 7 pressure and early high-scoring swings, where the margin for error keeps shrinking.