The Montreal Canadiens are set to face off against the Buffalo Sabres in a crucial winner-take-all Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Second Round on Monday at KeyBank Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed on ESPN, SN, TVAS, and CBC.
Canadiens’ Journey to Game 7
Montreal has already experienced the intensity of a Game 7 this postseason, successfully defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on May 3. While this previous victory instills confidence, the Canadiens are determined not to replicate the same struggles. In that game, they famously went 26:55 without recording a shot, including a complete drought in the second period—marking the first time in playoff history that they failed to produce a shot during a period. The game’s deciding goal was a peculiar one, as Alex Newhook managed to knock the puck out of the air from behind the goal line, resulting in an accidental deflection off Tampa Bay’s goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Players have openly stated that they felt the pressure during that match, relying heavily on their goaltender, Jakub Dobes. They recognize the need to reset their approach and are focused on relaxing, playing their game, and giving it their all in Buffalo. This need for a change in mindset was clearly highlighted by Saturday’s Game 6, which ended in a disheartening 8-3 loss for Montreal, where they conceded seven consecutive goals after initially leading 3-1.
The Canadiens are optimistic that their previous Game 7 experience will aid them in managing the immense pressure that comes with such a pivotal moment. Coach Martin St. Louis has stressed the importance of urgency and the finality of this deciding game, urging his team to take an assertive approach right from the opening faceoff.
The stakes are high, as the winner of this game will advance to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals. The first game of that series is set for Thursday in Raleigh at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, and TVAS. As the Canadiens prepare for this decisive battle, fans are eager to see if they can harness their past experiences and emerge victorious in Buffalo.