Newhook scores in OT to lift Canadiens over Sabres 3-2 in Game 7 – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Montreal Canadiens needed one more moment of late drama to keep their season alive, and Alex Newhook supplied it once again. Eleven minutes and twenty-two seconds into overtime Monday night, the forward snapped a shot through traffic that found the far post and ended the Buffalo Sabres’ playoff run. The 3-2 victory completed a second-round series win and moved Montreal into the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2021.
A Familiar Script With a New Twist
The game followed the pattern that had defined the entire series, with the opening goal arriving early. Phillip Danault deflected Kaiden Guhle’s shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen just 4:30 into the first period. Zachary Bolduc extended the lead ten minutes later with a one-timer set up by captain Nick Suzuki. The Sabres responded in the second period when Mattias Samuelsson’s shot deflected off Jordan Greenway and past Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes. Rasmus Dahlin then tied the score 6:27 into the third, firing home a feed from Owen Power. Dobes finished with 37 saves while Luukkonen stopped 22 shots.
Newhook’s Growing Legacy in Big Moments
Newhook’s overtime goal marked his second Game 7 winner of the postseason. He had already delivered the decisive tally in Montreal’s first-round victory over Tampa Bay. After the final horn, he described the feeling as both overwhelming and exactly why players compete at this level. The Canadiens, he noted, had played well enough to win and were now focused on what comes next. The team has shown steady growth since its first-round exit a year earlier. Additions to the roster and a collective commitment to defined roles have produced results deep into May. Newhook credited the group’s confidence and the consistent support from fans throughout the series.
Carolina Awaits After an Extended Break
Montreal will open the conference finals on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. The Hurricanes swept their first two playoff rounds and have not played since a 3-2 overtime win over Philadelphia on May 9. That 11-day layoff stands as the longest between postseason games in NHL history. The matchup revives memories of earlier meetings. Carolina defeated Montreal in six games in the 2006 first round and again in 2002. For the Canadiens, reaching this stage represents continued progress after their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Buffalo’s Breakout Season Ends on a Familiar Note
The Sabres finished the regular season with their first Atlantic Division title and ended a 14-year playoff drought. Their turnaround accelerated in December, when they posted a 39-9-5 record over the final 53 games. A first-round win over Boston marked their first series victory since 2007. Still, Buffalo fell to 1-7 all time in Game 7s. The young core that produced this season’s success remains intact, leaving the franchise with clear reasons for optimism heading into the summer.
What matters now: Montreal carries momentum into a matchup with a rested Carolina team. The Canadiens must maintain the structure and timely scoring that carried them through two grueling series while adjusting to an opponent that has enjoyed more than a week to prepare.
The Bell Centre will host Game 3 of the conference finals, and Newhook said the atmosphere there should be electric after the support the team received on the road. The Canadiens have shown they can deliver when the stakes are highest.
