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Canadiens Advance to Eastern Conference Finals After Game 7 Overtime Win Against Sabres

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Canadiens Advance to Eastern Conference Finals After Game 7 Thriller

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime on Monday night to win their playoff series four games to three. Alex Newhook scored the winning goal at 11:22 of overtime. The Canadiens will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Series Summary

The Canadiens took a 3-2 series lead after a 6-3 road win in Game 5. The Sabres tied the series with a win in Game 6 before the Canadiens won Game 7.

Game 5: Canadiens 6, Sabres 3 (Montreal leads series 3-2)

The Sabres led 3-1 early in the first period after scoring on three of their first four shots. Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobeš allowed three goals on four shots but remained in the game and stopped all 32 shots he faced thereafter. Montreal scored three goals in the second period (Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, Nick Suzuki) to take a 5-3 lead. Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots; Alex Lyon replaced him for the third period. The Canadiens went 2-for-2 on the power play; the Sabres did not have any power play opportunities.

Game 7: Canadiens 3, Sabres 2 (Overtime)

Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc scored for Montreal. Jakub Dobeš made 37 saves. The Sabres tied the game 2-2 on a goal by Rasmus Dahlin at 6:27 of the third period. Rasmus Dahlin and Jordan Greenway scored for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves for the Sabres.

Notable Statistics

  • Alex Newhook is the second player in NHL history to score multiple Game 7 series-clinching goals in a single postseason, joining Nathan Horton (2011).
  • The Canadiens did not lose back-to-back games in the postseason (6-0 after a loss).
  • Road teams went 5-2 in this series.

Statements

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis called the first period of Game 5 "very chaotic" and said the decision to keep Dobeš in net was made after consulting the goalie coach.

Goaltender Jakub Dobeš said he wanted to "give momentum back to the team" and noted that being pulled at home was "kind of a wake-up call" that he "took personal."

Alex Newhook described the feeling as "crazy" and said "there's no better feeling than celebrating with your teammates after a win like that."

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said the loss "hurts" and told the team he was proud of them, adding that "this one game doesn't define our season."

Canadiens winger Josh Anderson said the team knew "something was brewing" and that "we're not done yet."