The Montreal Canadiens are transferring on.
In a collection outlined by razor-thin margins, unlikely heroes, and relentless strain, the Canadiens delivered one in every of their grittiest performances of the season Sunday night time, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Sport 7 at Benchmark Worldwide Area to advance to the second spherical of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Newhook delivers defining second, Dobeš anchors the win
Alex Newhook scored the most important aim of his postseason at 11:07 of the third interval, batting a bouncing puck out of mid-air and in off Andrei Vasilevskiy to interrupt a 1-1 tie. Behind him, rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš turned apart 28 of 29 pictures, regular underneath fixed strain as Montreal secured the collection 4-3.
The numbers informed a exceptional story. The Canadiens registered simply 9 pictures on aim — the fewest ever in a playoff win since pictures started being tracked — but discovered a approach to outlast a veteran Lightning staff that managed lengthy stretches of the sport.
It wasn’t fairly, however it was sufficient.
ALEX NEWHOOK GIVES THE HABS THE LEAD IN THE THIRD PERIOD OF GAME 7!!! pic.twitter.com/LOu6oDm3Bg
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 4, 2026
Suzuki opens scoring in tight begin
Montreal struck first late within the opening interval when captain Nick Suzuki redirected some extent shot from Kaiden Guhle with 1:21 remaining. The puck modified path twice — first off Suzuki, then off a Tampa Bay defender — earlier than slipping previous Vasilevskiy.
It was Suzuki’s first aim of the collection, and an important one in a sport the place possibilities have been restricted.
Tampa Bay responded within the second interval on the ability play. After Guhle was known as for holding, Charle-Edouard D’Astous fired from the blue line and Dominic James tipped the puck previous Dobeš to tie the sport 1-1.
NICK SUZUKI!!!
THE HABS TAKE THE FIRST LEAD OF GAME 7 ???? pic.twitter.com/dCcc0xh3IT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 3, 2026
A second interval to outlive
The second interval belonged solely to Tampa Bay.
Montreal didn’t register a single shot on aim — the primary time in franchise historical past that has occurred in a playoff interval — and have been outshot 21-4 by means of 40 minutes. At one level, the Canadiens went 26 minutes and 57 seconds with out recording a shot.
Regardless of the imbalance, the sport remained tied due to Dobeš, who stood agency and gave his staff an opportunity to reply within the third.
Not a perfect third interval shot rely ???? pic.twitter.com/krDYhYaoUd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 4, 2026
One likelihood makes the distinction
That response got here on Montreal’s fifth shot of the sport.
After Vasilevskiy made a blocker save on a Guhle try, the puck bounced off the top boards and into the air. Newhook tracked it and knocked it in off the goaltender to revive the Canadiens’ lead.
Tampa Bay pushed late with the online empty. Branden Hagel made a key defensive play to disclaim Juraj Slafkovský on an empty-net alternative, holding it a one-goal sport till the ultimate seconds.
However the equalizer by no means got here.
A collection determined by inches
This matchup was as shut because it will get.
All seven video games have been determined by one aim, with 4 going to extra time. Each groups entered the playoffs with similar 106-point seasons, and neither aspect was in a position to draw back at any level within the collection.
Montreal had an opportunity to shut it out in Sport 6 however fell 1-0 in extra time on the Bell Centre, organising the decisive Sport 7.
In the long run, one bounce — and one end — proved to be the distinction.
A milestone within the rebuild
The win marks the Canadiens’ first playoff collection victory since their run to the Stanley Cup Last in 2021.
It is usually a major step ahead in a rebuild that started just some seasons in the past. From close to the underside of the standings to the NHL’s closing eight, Montreal’s younger core continues to take form.
Contributions got here from throughout the roster all through the collection, from Juraj Slafkovský’s hat trick in Sport 1 to key defensive minutes from Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Alexandre Provider, and Lane Hutson.
Dobeš emerged as a difference-maker in aim, ending the collection with a 2.03 goals-against common and a .923 save share.
Bell Centre watch occasion captures the second
Whereas the Canadiens battled on the street, the ambiance in Montreal matched the depth.
1000’s of followers crammed the Bell Centre for a Sport 7 watch occasion, turning it right into a roaring hub of help. Each save and scoring likelihood drew a unified response, making a playoff atmosphere that mirrored the motion in Tampa.
When the ultimate horn sounded, the emotion contained in the constructing was fast.
“Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,” mentioned one fan. “They deserve it, they usually’re going to do wonderful.”
One other pointed to each the standard of the collection and the ambiance inside the sector.
“Wonderful. Truthfully it was an excellent atmosphere and this was an excellent collection. And good luck to the Habs,” he mentioned. “As soon as in a lifetime alternative. It’s the primary time that we’re right here for Sport 7 and it’s bomb. Superb. A1.”
A 3rd fan highlighted how evenly matched the groups have been.
“I’m feeling actually good. It was an superior sport. Nice job by the Canadiens. It may have went both approach to be trustworthy — they’ve the perfect goalie within the league and it may have gone both approach, two nice coaches, so yeah it was superior.”
Others echoed the thrill all through the sector.
“Wonderful. Been ready 5 years for that. Can’t be happier,” mentioned one fan.
“Feeling very properly,” added one other.
One lady described each the sport and the ambiance.
“Tremendous excited. It was an superior ambiance and an superior sport, regardless of only a few pictures on internet.”
Talking concerning the watch occasion, she added: “Wonderful. I’m so glad to do it. It’s an inexpensive expertise. It was actually, actually enjoyable.”
One other fan mirrored on the sport’s momentum swings. “It was a terrific sport. You understand, it was simply superior. Second interval went somewhat gradual. We have been somewhat bit frightened when Tampa scored, however that Alex Newhook aim, unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.”
For some, the night time carried private that means.
“It’s my birthday, so it’s good! Win for my birthday!” one fan mentioned.
“I’m simply feeling blessed. I’m so happy with my boys,” mentioned one other, earlier than including, “Suzuki got here by means of! Dobeš! He’s a beast! He’s a beast!”
Confidence within the staff’s future was evident as properly.
“I’m feeling like we’re gonna win this Stanley Cup. I misplaced my voice. The vitality is unbelievable. And I let you know, it’s completely wonderful,” one fan mentioned.
“I’m feeling wonderful! Go, Habs go,” one other added.
One lady mirrored on her lengthy connection to the staff.
“I really feel very overwhelmed proper now as a result of I’ve been watching since I used to be a child with my brother and my dad… and naturally in 2021 it didn’t go the best way we needed to, so hopefully this time now we have a great shot at it.”
Youthful followers shared within the second as properly.
“I used to be so freaking completely happy. It made me so completely happy… The Habs gained they usually’re making it to the second spherical,” mentioned one younger boy.
“We gained. And my dad mentioned if we gained he should buy all the pieces. The one factor I would like,” one other added with a smile.
Subsequent up: Buffalo Sabres
The Canadiens now flip their consideration to the Buffalo Sabres, who eradicated the Boston Bruins in six video games after successful the Atlantic Division.
Sport 1 of the second-round collection is about for Wednesday night time in Buffalo, with Sport 2 scheduled for Friday earlier than the collection shifts to Montreal.
