The Montreal Canadiens advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a tense Game 7 on Sunday night at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. Despite managing only nine shots on goal, the Canadiens secured the win thanks to a late score from Alex Newhook and solid goaltending from rookie Jakub Dobes, who stopped 28 shots.

Newhook’s game-winning goal came with 8:53 remaining in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie. Nick Suzuki contributed with his first goal of the series, helping Montreal become the first team to win a playoff game with fewer than 10 shots on goal since the statistic began being tracked in the 1959-60 season.

The Canadiens will now face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, with the series opener scheduled for Wednesday night in Buffalo. This marks Montreal’s first playoff series win since they were defeated by Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

The tightly contested series featured seven games decided by a single goal, including four that went to overtime. Tampa Bay’s defense was formidable, limiting Montreal to only four shots through the first two periods and keeping the Canadiens off the scoreboard for nearly 27 minutes crossing the first and second period.

Lightning forward Brandon Hagel made a notable defensive play in the final minute, executing a sliding stick save on an open net, but Tampa Bay was unable to capitalize during a late 6-on-5 and subsequent 6-on-4 advantage in the closing seconds. This loss marks the Lightning’s fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit and their 11th loss in the last 13 home playoff games, including three defeats in this series alone.

“We’ve been a good road team all season. We knew we had to come in here and anything can happen in a Game 7,” Suzuki said, reflecting on the difficult atmosphere in Tampa, which has hosted 461 consecutive sellout crowds.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper acknowledged the final margin, saying, “Sometimes you win the game and not the score,” but added, “When it’s Game 7, there’s no moral victory.”

The Canadiens benefited from a couple of fortunate bounces early in the game. Newhook’s goal came after a shot from Lane Hutson deflected off the pads and backside of Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who finished with 27 saves.

As the series concluded, Lightning players and coaches expressed frustration over their inability to protect home ice. “You can’t lose three at home,” Hagel said bluntly.

Montreal’s victory ends a hard-fought and tightly matched first round, setting up a rematch with the Sabres as the Canadiens continue their quest for the Stanley Cup.