The Montreal Canadiens are headed to the Jap Convention Remaining for the primary time since 2015 after Alex Newhook scored the time beyond regulation winner in a 3-2 Recreation 7 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday evening.
In a sequence outlined by resilience, the Canadiens as soon as once more discovered a technique to reply adversity. Montreal dropped the opener, trailed repeatedly all through the second spherical, and confronted one other momentum swing after surrendering a two-goal lead in Recreation 7. Nonetheless, the Canadiens delivered when the second demanded it most.
Newhook’s winner capped off one other dramatic chapter in a postseason run that continues to collect perception inside Montreal.
Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc additionally scored for the Canadiens, whereas Jakub Dobeš turned apart a number of key possibilities to assist Montreal advance to the third spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the primary time since 2021.
The Canadiens will now face the Carolina Hurricanes within the Jap Convention Remaining.
Quick begin offers Montreal early management
Montreal dictated the tempo early and was rewarded earlier than the halfway level of the opening interval.
Kaiden Guhle despatched a puck towards the online that redirected off Danault’s skate and slipped previous Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to offer the Canadiens a 1-0 lead.
PHILLIP DANAULT OPENS THE SCORING IN GAME 7 ???? pic.twitter.com/leWLoOHB7u
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 18, 2026
The Sabres pushed again shortly afterward when Jake Quinn discovered house in entrance, however Dobeš answered with one in all his greatest saves of the evening to protect Montreal’s benefit.
The Canadiens doubled the lead on the ability play with 6:31 remaining within the first interval. Nick Suzuki drew defenders towards him earlier than sliding a behind-the-back cross throughout the zone to Bolduc, who ripped a shot over Luukkonen’s shoulder to make it 2-0.
For a time, Montreal appeared totally in management.
ZACHARY BOLDUC WITH AN ABSOLUTE SNIPE ????
MONTREAL HAS A 2-0 LEAD! pic.twitter.com/ifuXCneGv6
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 19, 2026
Sabres reply as stress rises
Buffalo slowly wrestled momentum away within the second interval.
Josh Anderson practically restored Montreal’s two-goal cushion after breaking in alone on a partial breakaway, however missed the online earlier than crashing closely into the put up. The winger ultimately returned to the bench, permitting the Canadiens to keep away from one other harm concern.
Moments later, the Sabres broke by.
Mattias Samuelsson lower the deficit to at least one with some extent shot by site visitors, beating a closely screened Dobeš with 6:41 remaining within the interval.
Buffalo discovered the equalizer later within the body after sustained stress within the Montreal zone. Following a faceoff, the puck labored its technique to Rasmus Dahlin, who tucked it behind Dobeš to tie the sport 2-2.
The sequence sparked frustration from the Canadiens after a Buffalo participant collided with Dobeš moments earlier with no goaltender interference penalty being known as.
The strain solely grew from there.
Dobeš retains Canadiens alive
The Sabres appeared to take the lead halfway by the third interval when a unfastened puck slipped by Dobeš and crossed the objective line.
Nevertheless, referee Wes McCauley had blown the play useless simply earlier than the puck got here free, waving the objective off and preserving the sport tied.
From that time ahead, each mistake carried monumental weight.
Dobeš remained composed below stress, turning apart a number of harmful Buffalo alternatives late in regulation to offer Montreal an opportunity to regroup heading into time beyond regulation.
The rookie goaltender continued a playoff run that has rapidly reworked him into one of many Canadiens’ most essential gamers.
Newhook delivers the defining second
Extra time ended with one rush and one end.
Montreal pressured a turnover close to its personal blue line earlier than rapidly transitioning up ice. The puck ultimately discovered Newhook in stride, and the ahead snapped a wrist shot previous Luukkonen to ship the Bell Centre crowd into celebration.
Sticks and gloves flew into the air as teammates flooded the ice round him.
For a franchise looking for one other deep playoff run, it was a second years within the making.
Newhook completed the sequence with six objectives, together with the most important one in all Montreal’s season.
Canadiens put together for Carolina
The victory sends Montreal to the Jap Convention Remaining for the primary time in additional than a decade, the place the Canadiens will face the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina completed atop the Jap Convention standings through the common season with 113 factors, however Montreal dealt with the Hurricanes nicely all year long, sweeping the three-game season sequence whereas outscoring Carolina 15-8.
Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov every recorded 5 factors towards the Hurricanes this season, whereas Slafkovsky scored two game-winning objectives in these conferences.
Dobeš began all three video games towards Carolina, posting a 2.67 goals-against common and a .922 save proportion.
Bell Centre watch get together explodes after Canadiens’ time beyond regulation victory
The Bell Centre watch get together erupted in celebration because the Canadiens secured a dramatic time beyond regulation win, sending followers into chants of “Go Habs Go” that echoed all through the venue. The ambiance was electrical, with supporters leaping, hugging, and celebrating as Montreal moved one step nearer within the playoffs.
Feelings have been nonetheless working excessive moments after the ultimate buzzer.
“We have been so pressured all alongside, however Habs got here on high,” one fan stated.
For a lot of, the expertise was overwhelming in the very best means.
“It was loopy. Ten out of ten,” one other fan stated.
As the joy settled barely, consideration rapidly turned to what comes subsequent for Montreal.
“Very completely satisfied to proceed to the subsequent spherical, and let’s get to the finals,” one supporter stated.
Others have been already looking forward to the matchup with Carolina.
“Carolina’s subsequent. It’ll be robust, however we’ll make it by,” one other fan stated.
“We’re going to spherical three towards the Carolina Hurricanes,” one attendee added.
Some followers admitted they might barely course of what had simply occurred.
“I don’t know. I don’t know, however I’m completely satisfied,” one man stated with fun.
Regardless of the nerves, the assumption within the workforce remained sturdy.
“Superb, however the job’s not completed. We’re solely midway there. Let’s go. Let’s go. We’re going to win it!” stated one other supporter.
Households inside the world stated the second was particularly significant as they shared it collectively.
“I couldn’t be extra excited to be right here with my daughter making recollections. That is what it’s all about. What a recreation. What a sequence. We will’t wait for 2 extra sequence. Eight extra wins. Let’s go!” one father stated.
The vitality contained in the constructing prolonged to followers of all ages, together with youthful supporters caught up within the pleasure of time beyond regulation.
“The Habs gained in time beyond regulation,” one little boy stated proudly.
Close by, one other younger fan was already centered on the subsequent opponent.
“We would like the Hurricanes!” a younger woman shouted.
For a lot of in attendance, the sport was outlined by stress and momentum swings.
“Superb. We gained. So traumatic. Each shot is essential. Carry on the Hurricanes. Go Habs, go!,” one fan stated.
Others merely described it as a once-in-a-lifetime ambiance.
“Tremendous good. I’m so excited. We’ve waited so lengthy for that,” one other supporter stated.
“Greatest feeling ever. No phrases to explain how superb that is proper now. It’s one of the best. It’s one of the best. Go Habs, go!” one other fan added.
Even those that don’t normally assist Montreal stated the vitality within the constructing was inconceivable to disregard.
“I’m not a Habs fan, however I bought to say, on this metropolis, on this place, we eat, and after we eat, we win!” one attendee stated.
Followers additionally praised particular person performances that helped safe the victory.
“The efficiency, I imply, it was up and down, however we bought it in Dobeš, Newhook…That was so thrilling!” stated one fan holding a “you’re merely Dobeš” signal.
One other supporter proudly identified her admiration for Lane Hutson.
“I really like Lane Hutson, he’s one of the best,” she stated.
A younger fan additionally celebrated the workforce’s standout gamers and total efficiency.
“Habs on high. They’re profitable the cup. Dobeš was on fireplace. Nothing was stopping him tonight. Nothing was getting previous,” he stated.
As the ultimate celebrations continued, many followers pressured that whereas the win was thrilling, the job is much from over.
“So traumatic. Each shot is essential. Carry on the Hurricanes,” one fan stated.
As the group slowly filtered out of the Bell Centre and into downtown Montreal, optimism across the Canadiens’ playoff run remained sturdy.
“We’re very, very excited as a result of for us, it’s a actual expertise that the Habs are going again to the playoffs. And I imagine that this 12 months is the 12 months that Montreal goes to have that Stanley Cup,” one fan stated.
Recreation 1 of the Jap Convention Remaining is scheduled for Thursday evening in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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