Canadiens eliminate Lightning from playoffs after crazy Game 7 win

[p]After an entertaining series between the two rivals, it was perhaps fitting that a seventh and deciding game in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-lightning/YVE3zk1c/"]Tampa Bay[/a] was needed to determine who would advance.[/p][p]In the first period, where the Bolts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/montreal-canadiens-nu2G7VWc/tampa-bay-lightning-YVE3zk1c/?mid=2Dc8POw9"]outshot the Habs 9-4[/a], it looked like Tampa were more likely to go in front. Yet, it was the Habs who led after a shot from distance by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guhle-kaiden/G8oMBvZd/"]Kaiden Guhle[/a] was tipped home by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suzuki-nick/AwFYM8lT/"]Nick Suzuki[/a].[/p][embed guid="3226fc72-86f8-4c8a-80c2-b5acea654204" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2051070536755662988?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]That was the only meaningful opportunity of the opening frame, where neither side had a power play at any point. That would change in the second, as both teams had to play a man down at one point.[/p][p]Tampa's second power play proved to be key, as they found their leveller with 6:33 left. Just like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/montreal-canadiens/nu2G7VWc/"]Montreal[/a]'s goal, it came off a tipped stick. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/d-astous-charles-edouard/8EnD7CUB/"]Charles D'Astous[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/goncalves-gage/rNDiEsYB/"]Gage Goncalves[/a] traded passes before the former went for a goal. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-dominic/SnMqj6uL/"]Dominic James[/a] put out his stick to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dobes-jakub/0W5FnU82/"]Jakub Dobes[/a].[/p][embed guid="910f0f66-f2d1-4aa2-9867-a09952a9ffb3" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2051083451101532500?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Remarkably, the Habs did not have a single shot on goal in the second period, marking the first time in their franchise history that they failed to put up at least one in a single period in any game.[/p][p]The final period of regulation went much like the first, as the Lightning looked the more threatening team.[/p][p]However, the Canadiens went on to find the winner. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hutson-lane/n5Cwy6Xg/"]Lane Hutson[/a]'s initial shot went just wide of the goal, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/newhook-alex/AJWeyyJ2/"]Alex Newhook[/a] was first to the puck to try his luck from a tight angle.[/p][p]The backhand shot went into the roof of the net, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vasilevski-andrei/pSoZfKJQ/"]Andrei Vasilevski[/a] too slow to react.[/p][embed guid="d6b1a708-5b7f-4342-abd9-24d99cdaf48a" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2051097135550992686?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The last 8:53 saw the Lightning try to level the score once again, with their season on the line. This time, they were out of luck. Despite bringing on a sixth attacker for the final few minutes, they could not find their way past Dobes a second time.[/p][p]In total, the Habs had just nine shots on goal in the game - the fewest in NHL history, beating out the New York Islanders, who put up 11 in 2015 during Game 7 against the Washington Capitals.[/p][p]Montreal won the series 4-3. Next for them will be the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/buffalo-sabres/UobjtMIP/"]Buffalo Sabres[/a], who had needed six games to defeat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-bruins/jeans23J/"]Boston Bruins[/a].[/p][embed guid="e36d527c-9a84-498e-ad8b-04bfa5fb3625" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u8h5q63ue4" social-type="youtube" /]