The Montreal Canadiens have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 on Monday night. Alex Newhook scored the decisive goal midway through the first overtime period to lift Montreal to the win, per @FriedgeHNIC.
Montreal jumped out to an early 2-0 lead at KeyBank Center with first-period goals from Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc. The Sabres fought back to force the extra frame, receiving goals from Jordan Greenway in the second period and Rasmus Dahlin in the third to tie the contest.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes stood tall for the Canadiens, anchoring a defensive effort that weathered a late Buffalo surge. With the victory, Montreal secures a date with the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals, which are set to begin this Thursday.
This is the second winner-take-all victory for the Canadiens in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, following their Game 7 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round. Elliotte Friedman noted the high quality of the matchup, which saw both teams trade momentum throughout the night.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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