The magic keeps following the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7s — and once again, Alex Newhook delivered the defining moment. Newhook scored 11:22 into overtime Monday night as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in a dramatic Eastern Conference second-round Game 7, clinching the series 4-3 and sending Montreal to the NHL semifinal round for the first time since 2021.
After eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games during the opening round, the Canadiens survived another winner-take-all battle thanks to Newhook’s latest clutch performance.
The game-winning play began with Buffalo stars Tage Thompson and captain Rasmus Dahlin misplaying the puck near Montreal’s blue line. Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier quickly transitioned up the right wing and threaded a cross-ice pass to Newhook streaking into the offensive zone.
With teammate Jake Evans cutting across the crease and screening goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Newhook snapped a shot just inside the far post from the top of the left circle, igniting a celebration inside Bell Centre.
It was Newhook’s team-leading seventh goal of the postseason and his second Game 7 series-clincher of these playoffs. He also scored the decisive goal late in regulation during Montreal’s 2-1 first-round Game 7 victory over Tampa Bay.
The 25-year-old now joins rare company as one of only 14 players in NHL history to score two career Game 7-winning goals, with Nathan Horton of the Boston Bruins being the only other player to accomplish the feat in a single postseason.
Montreal appeared in control early after Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc scored in the opening period to build a 2-0 lead. But Buffalo responded with resilience befitting a team that captured its first Atlantic Division title and ended a 14-year playoff drought this season.
Jordan Greenway got the Sabres on the board before Dahlin tied the game 6:27 into the third period, blasting home the equalizer to silence the crowd and force overtime.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes bounced back in impressive fashion after surrendering six goals in Montreal’s 8-3 loss in Game 6. Dobes stopped 37 shots Monday night and improved to 6-0 this postseason following a loss.
Luukkonen made 22 saves for Buffalo, but the Sabres fell to 1-7 all-time in Game 7 contests, including 1-3 in overtime decisions.
For Montreal, the victory added another chapter to the franchise’s storied postseason history. The Canadiens improved to 17-9 in Game 7s, surpassing Boston for the most Game 7 victories in NHL playoff history.
The Canadiens’ resurgence has been one of the NHL’s best stories this season. After years of rebuilding following their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final — where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning — Montreal continues its upward climb with a young, retooled roster led by players such as Newhook, who arrived from the Colorado Avalanche after winning the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Meanwhile, Buffalo’s season still marked a major breakthrough for a franchise searching for stability. After sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in early December, the Sabres surged by going 39-9-5 over their final 53 games, earning their first division title in years and winning a playoff series for the first time since 2007.
Now, Montreal turns its attention to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, with Game 1 set for Thursday in Carolina.
The Hurricanes enter the series fully rested after sweeping their first two playoff opponents, including an overtime series-clinching win over the Philadelphia Flyers on May 9. Carolina’s 11-day layoff between playoff games is the longest in NHL postseason history.
The matchup also renews playoff history between the franchises. Carolina defeated Montreal in playoff series in both 2002 and 2006, though the Canadiens dominated the rivalry when the Hurricanes franchise was still based in Hartford.
Now, with momentum, confidence, and a Game 7 hero leading the way, Montreal is four wins away from another trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
