Canadiens defeat Sabres in Game 7 OT thriller as they advance to Conference Final

[p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/newhook-alex/AJWeyyJ2/"]Alex Newhook[/a] scored the game-winner, his seventh of the playoffs, that sent the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/buffalo-sabres/UobjtMIP/"]Sabres[/a] faithful into complete silence[/b].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/montreal-canadiens/nu2G7VWc/"]Montreal[/a] rookie goaltender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dobes-jakub/0W5FnU82/"]Jakub Dobes[/a] recorded 37 saves, now winning back-to-back Game 7s these playoffs and having yet to lose two games in a row.[/p][p]It's the Canadiens' first time advancing to the ECF since 2021, the same year they went on to lose in the Stanley Cup Final, and their fifth Game 7 overtime win, first since 1992. [/p][embed guid="e0662546-b7e0-4b8a-b195-958a855d802d" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0CF5C-Vfw" social-type="youtube" /][p]It'll now be a showdown against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/carolina-hurricanes/Sx0gl0tm/"]Carolina Hurricanes[/a], who swept their way to the ECF, taking down the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ottawa-senators/noTCHmWM/"]Senators[/a] and then the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-flyers/QySGG7oT/"]Philadelphia Flyers[/a]. Game 1 between them and the Canadiens is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st, which will have been 11 days of rest for the Canes.[/p][h2]Recap & Highlights[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/danault-phillip/IZfyUR9I/"]Phillip Danault[/a] recorded his first goal of the playoffs to put the Habs out in front [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/buffalo-sabres-UobjtMIP/montreal-canadiens-nu2G7VWc/?mid=xEQHU1vA"]1-0[/a] just 4:30 after puck drop[/b]. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guhle-kaiden/G8oMBvZd/"]Kaiden Guhle[/a] (6) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/texier-alexandre/zwYLoXr4/"]Alexandre Texier[/a] (4) recorded the assists. [/p][p]It was Montreal's eighth-straight postseason game with a goal in the first period, tying a franchise record (1993, 1978). [/p][embed guid="b4bc6a5a-f195-417d-b473-f9ab6bd724a7" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7JVFOiBrp0" social-type="youtube" /][p]The game wouldn't see its first power play until almost 13 minutes in after Buffalo's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/benson-zach/8hvfmoQc/"]Zach Benson[/a] got hit with a two-minute minor for delay of the game - the only penalty of the first period, a big step down from the seven in Game 6. [/p][p]Montreal took advantage.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bolduc-zachary/Y5g6sTSL/"]Zachary Bolduc[/a] scored his third goal of the playoffs to make it a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/buffalo-sabres-UobjtMIP/montreal-canadiens-nu2G7VWc/?mid=xEQHU1vA"]2-0[/a] game, with assists from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suzuki-nick/AwFYM8lT/"]Nick Suzuki[/a] (9) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hutson-lane/n5Cwy6Xg/"]Lane Hutson[/a] (12). [/b]It marked Montreal's seventh power-play goal in their last 17 attempts.[/p][p]Hutson became the fifth defenseman in Habs playoff history to record a six-game assist streak, joining Jacques Lemaire (1973), Larry Robinson (1978), Frank Mahovlich (1973), and Henri Richard (1960). [/p][p]Meanwhile, Suzuki became just the second in Habs history ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/naslund-mats/AwlM0cs1/"]Mats Naslund[/a], 1987) to record at least one point in eight-straight postseason games on the road. [/p][embed guid="15ac5837-4333-4999-aff4-d1040d8c9b24" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-id6qQgVmBw&pp=0gcJCQQLAYcqIYzv" social-type="youtube" /][p]Montreal led after the first period for the fourth time this series (Games 2, 4, 6) - they went 1-2 in those games. From the second period onwards in those three games, Buffalo outscored them 9-3. [/p][p]The Habs went into this second period leading in shots (11-9), hits (14-7), and blocked shots (5-2). [/p][p]Buffalo thought they might get their first power play of the game when a high-sticking penalty was called. But after further review, Zach Benson hit his own teammates in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-josh/hEIOCK2D/"]Josh Norris[/a], drawing a bloody lip. [/p][embed guid="90447274-41c1-4c76-918f-8305e8e96430" url="https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/status/2056536421033247015?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]It would take a full 33:19 of game time before the Sabres finally found the net in the second period on their 15th shot on goal for the game.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/greenway-jordan/EeTUHE6b/"]Jordan Greenway[/a] scored his second goal of the playoffs to cut the lead in half, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/buffalo-sabres-UobjtMIP/montreal-canadiens-nu2G7VWc/?mid=xEQHU1vA"]2-1[/a]. [/b]The goal was originally credited to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/samuelsson-mattias/ML8sCJsA/"]Mattias Samuelsson[/a], who took the shot, but it bounced off Greenway.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/malenstyn-beck/zeLbcsIt/"]Beck Malenstyn[/a] (2) and Jordan Greenway (2) picked up the assists.[/p][embed guid="c013474f-b309-4124-b96c-3deb705edb85" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3bgqBGZczo" social-type="youtube" /][p]Buffalo flipped the switch in the second period, entering the final frame with 58 shots (23 on goal) compared to Montreal's 30 (18 on goal). Neither team committed a penalty in the second, making it the fewest penalties in the first two periods between both teams in the series. [/p][p]The Sabres had a chance at the start of the third period for their first power play of the game after Danault was called for a high-sticking on Samuelsson, but couldn't find the net. [/p][p]But Buffalo preferred even strength. [/p][p][b]Seven minutes into the third period, who else could it be but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dahlin-rasmus/rgM9Q0C7/"]Rasmus Dahlin[/a] to tie things up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/buffalo-sabres-UobjtMIP/montreal-canadiens-nu2G7VWc/?mid=xEQHU1vA"]2-2[/a] for the Sabres. [/b]Following the goal, the Sabres increased their shot total advantage to 70-38 over the Habs.[/p][p]Dahlin scored his fourth goal of the playoffs, with assists from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/power-owen/dhz6Xl7J/"]Owen Power[/a] (6) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcleod-ryan/4hby5ufI/"]Ryan McLeod[/a] (4), after coming off a historic five-point game.[/p][p]His goal marked the 12th by a Sabres defenseman this postseason - the most by any team. [/p][embed guid="a5148bcd-3aa4-44e3-b95c-517caf535dfd" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBDdl9gLWyw" social-type="youtube" /][p]The game would enter overtime with only one penalty assessed to each team. [/p][p]Buffalo had outshot 34-22 (SOG), while the Habs still kept the lead in both hits (24-19) and blocked shots (19-9). Montreal had only four shots on goal in the third period as the momentum completely swung in Buffalo's favor. [/p][p]In the end, it was Montreal who emerged victorious.[/p][embed guid="9d71dc40-5fe8-4a8c-a320-2ebdcb191705" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLUb4s8O_X4" social-type="youtube" /]