MONTREAL – 4 overtimes. Six one-goal video games. A single two-goal lead — lasting simply 5:37 — in 360 minutes of hockey.
It’s solely proper that the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning are headed to Sport 7 in a first-round sequence outlined by razor-thin margins.
“It’s so even, from the particular groups to the goaltending to the all the pieces,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper mentioned. “That’s the way you get Sport 7s. To win this, I imply, you’re going to have a particular sport out of your crew, and I’m assuming that the crew that wins might be going to get yet another break than the opposite one.”
The 2 sides will determine Sunday in Tampa, Fla., who advances to face the Buffalo Sabres within the second spherical after the Lightning staved off elimination Friday with an epic 1-0 extra time win in Sport 6 on the Bell Centre.
Gage Goncalves scored the winner 9:03 into extra time, whereas Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves in a spectacular goaltending duel with Jakub Dobes.
The Canadiens missed an opportunity to clinch a sequence in entrance of a full-capacity dwelling crowd — one thing they haven’t executed since 2014 — and to advance previous the primary spherical for the primary time since their 2021 run to the Stanley Cup ultimate.
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As disappointing because it was, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis framed the loss and upcoming Sport 7 as a chance for his inexperienced group — the youngest crew within the playoffs — to develop.
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Solely six gamers stay from that stunning, pandemic-era run that ended with a loss in 5 video games to the Lightning.
“It’s meant to be, it’s future for our younger crew,” St. Louis mentioned. “A number of gamers haven’t taken half in a Sport 7, I believe that’s a part of our path and it’s a must to embrace the second. It’s about getting again up and let’s go.
“You possibly can’t purchase these reps like this. These guys are getting unbelievable reps proper now and it’s enjoyable to observe. I hold telling them I received the most effective seat in the home.”
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki mentioned post-game the crew’s mentality was to “keep constructive.”
“We have been the higher crew for just about most of that sport, and simply didn’t rating,” he mentioned. “Thought Vasilevsky type of received them that sport, so I believed everybody performed an important sport, simply didn’t get the outcome.
“Able to go right down to Tampa and win Sport 7.”
The Canadiens have already received twice in Tampa, defeating the Lightning in Video games 1 and 5 on this see-saw sequence. Montreal additionally posted a 24-9-8 document on the highway this season, second-best within the NHL behind solely the Colorado Avalanche.
The skilled Lightning, in the meantime, try to keep away from a fourth consecutive first-round exit, a run that has featured its share of heartbreak on dwelling ice.
The message out of their room following the emotional Sport 6 win? Job’s not completed.
“I’m certain guys have been pumped, however we haven’t received something but,” Cooper mentioned. “All we did was win a sport to ship us again to Tampa and hold our season alive.
“You don’t wish to rain on the parade as a result of what a hell of a win by the blokes, however we haven’t completed something but.”
That is solely the sixth NHL playoff sequence to have every of the primary six video games determined by one aim. If current historical past is any indicator, it’d turn into simply the third to increase that streak to seven on Sunday.
“It’s been unreal to be trustworthy, clearly we each had 106 factors coming on this sequence. They’re a extremely good hockey crew over there, we’re a extremely nice hockey crew right here,” Lightning ahead Brandon Hagel mentioned. “I don’t suppose we anticipated the rest apart from what’s been occurring right here.
“It’s going to return down to at least one sport and I’m excited.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 2, 2026.
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