The Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling Game 7 on May 3, 2026. The final score was 2-1. Despite being outshot 29-9, the Canadiens secured their place in the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Alex Newhook scored the decisive goal at 11:07 of the third period. Nick Suzuki also found the net for Montreal. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Canadiens, who are the youngest team in these playoffs.
As of midday, Jakub Dobeš’s performance stood out. He made an impressive 28 saves during the game. His efforts were crucial to countering the Lightning’s offensive pressure.
All seven games in this series were decided by one goal. Four of those games went to overtime, highlighting the intensity of this matchup.
This victory is particularly notable as it advances the Canadiens to the second round for the first time in five years. Meanwhile, this loss means that the Lightning have now been eliminated in the first round for four consecutive seasons.
Brandon Hagel commented on the game, stating, “You can’t say much about the game tonight; you’re going to win 99 percent of those games.” Jon Cooper emphasized that all they can ask is for their team to improve as they progress through challenges.
Noah Dobson praised Dobeš’s performance, calling him “incredible” and “gutsy.” The Canadiens’ roster has shown significant growth through their rebuild process.
The next challenge for Montreal will be against the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
