Lightning bounced in first round again as Canadiens win 2-1 in Game 7
By Rick Mayer
May 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM EDT
Montreal scored twice off fluky deflections and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 28 saves to eliminate Tampa Bay in the opening round of the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
In the NHL playoffs, sometimes all a team needs is a little puck luck and outstanding goaltending.
On a night when Tampa Bay held Montreal to nine shots on goal, the Canadiens turned two lucky puck deflections into goals and delivered a first-round Lightning exit for the fourth straight year.
The Canadiens’ 2-1 victory on Sunday clinched one of the tightest best-of-seven series in years.
Each game of the thrilling series was decided by one goal and four went to overtime. The score was tied or within one goal for 439:45 of the series’ 445:22 minutes – about 6 minutes over seven games.
“There’s obviously some disbelief in our room that, you know, we could play like that and not walk away with anything,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
Alex Newhook scored the game-winner with 8:53 left on a ricochet off end boards, and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 28 saves to finish off Montreal’s first series victory since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Tampa Bay in 2021.
“At the end of the game, when you’re just sitting there saying, ‘You know, the hockey gods have been in my corner many, many times.’ And tonight, they’re in the other corner, and that’s what happens,” said Cooper, who has led the franchise to four Final appearances and two titles.
“It’s not the movies. It’s not something you can retake and get the scene right. It’s life theater, right there in front of you, and you never know what’s gonna happen. That’s why it’s unbelievable to be a part of, to be part of something like this. But it damn well stings when you’re on the wrong side of it.”
ALSO READ: In an 'epic,' Lightning beat Canadiens 1-0 in overtime to force Game 7
Playing in front of their 461st consecutive sellout crowd and hundreds more fans watching from Thunder Alley outside Benchmark International Arena, the Lightning lost for the 11th time in their last 13 playoff games at home, including three times in this series.
“You can't lose three at home,” Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel said.
Nevertheless, the Lightning likely deserved a different fate.
Nick Suzuki opened the scoring, deflecting the puck off the leg of Tampa Bay’s J.J. Moser into the net with 1:21 left in the first period. That was Montreal’s fourth shot of the game.
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/2051096675930845673
After that, Tampa Bay’s defense held the Canadiens without a shot for nearly 27 minutes – a stretch that included the entire second period and 3:50 on the power play.
It was the first time in the Canadiens’ 117-year history that they were held without a shot on goal in a period during the postseason.
And Montreal became the first team to win a playoff game with fewer than 10 shots on goal since shots were first tracked in the 1959-60 season.
The Canadiens also were the first team to have zero shots in a playoff period since Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals against Nashville.
"You sit back here, obviously you're upset. It sucks, but there's not much more you can do,” Hagel said. “You give up zero shots in a second period, three shots in the third period, and you lose a hockey (game).
“You can't look at one guy in the room and say you didn’t do your thing. Yeah, well, I guess we didn't score more goals, obviously. It's a tough feeling, but that's the reality of hockey. It’s Game 7, and you lose.”
Meanwhile, Dominic James tipped in Charle-Edouard D’Astous’ one-timer from just inside the blue line to tie it at 1 on a power play in the second period.
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/2051083451101532500
“Sometimes you win the game and not the score,” Cooper said. “When it's Game 7, there's no moral victory.”
Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy managed to stay focused despite getting little work in front of the net. That’s what made the deflections more frustrating.
As the clock ticked under 9 minutes, Montreal’s Lane Hutson fired the puck from the left circle that Vasilevskiy’s blocker directed toward the end boards. As Newhook skated behind the net, he backhanded the pinballing puck out of the air off the goaltender’s back.
“Great hand-eye coordination by Newy,” Suzuki said. “He's been a big-game player. I'm definitely happy for him.”
Just before first intermission, with Tampa Bay playing with momentum, Nikita Kucherov lost coverage on Kaiden Guhle, who fired a shot that Suzuki redirected from the left hash. The puck was heading wide of the post, then hit Moser’s skate, changed direction and beat Vasilevskiy.
It was the Canadiens’ eighth shot of the game and their captain’s first goal of the playoffs after netting 29 during the regular season.
“It's a tough building to play in, it's a chaotic environment out there,” Suzuki said. “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.”
With Vasilevskiy pulled for the extra attacker, Hagel made an outstanding, sliding stick save in front of the empty net in the final minute, but the Lightning couldn't get the tying goal during a 6-on-5 – and 6-on-4 for the final 6 seconds after Montreal was called for delay of game.
https://twitter.com/TheHockeyNews/status/2051070596230840377
"I have zero complaints about any team I've ever coached for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but this team was different,” Cooper said. “They deserve better than what has happened to them, and it's too bad because of how hard they worked and committed and just did everything we asked.
“They just went out wearing their heart on their sleeve and gave everything they possibly could, and we just came up short. But it says a lot about the team and a lot of the players who are here."
Tampa Bay forced a Game 7 on Friday, when it broke a 0-0 tie on Gage Goncalves overtime goal to even the series at three games apiece. Vasilevskiy made 30 saves for his eighth career playoff shutout.
Montreal’s Martin St. Louis, a Hockey Hall of Famer whose No. 26 is retired by the Lightning, became the fifth player to appear in a Game 7 for a team and coach against them in another.
Although each game had similar scripts, he said different areas of his team stood out in each of the four victories.
https://twitter.com/worldhockeyrpt/status/2051101352781132232
“We have nine shots, 10 shots, right? And so, it felt like tonight, (the Lightning) deserved better. I felt like Game 6, we probably deserved better,” St. Louis said after Game 7. “You know, Dobes kind of stole the game, probably similar to the way (Vasilevskiy) stole Game 6.
“So, you need a little bit of everything, and I think that's what we got this series. Like, tonight, big goal by Suzy. And we got the bounce with Newy, right? So, it's not one thing.”
Montreal opens its Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Buffalo on Wednesday.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
SERIES RESULTS (best of seven)
Game 1 – Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (overtime)
Game 2 – Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (overtime)
Game 3 – Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (overtime)
Game 4 – Lightning 3, Canadiens 2
Game 5 – Canadiens 3, Lightning 2
Game 6 – Lightning 1, Canadiens 0 (overtime)
Game 7 – Canadiens 2, Lightning 1, Montreal wins sereis 4-3
On a night when Tampa Bay held Montreal to nine shots on goal, the Canadiens turned two lucky puck deflections into goals and delivered a first-round Lightning exit for the fourth straight year.
The Canadiens’ 2-1 victory on Sunday clinched one of the tightest best-of-seven series in years.
Each game of the thrilling series was decided by one goal and four went to overtime. The score was tied or within one goal for 439:45 of the series’ 445:22 minutes – about 6 minutes over seven games.
“There’s obviously some disbelief in our room that, you know, we could play like that and not walk away with anything,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
Alex Newhook scored the game-winner with 8:53 left on a ricochet off end boards, and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 28 saves to finish off Montreal’s first series victory since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Tampa Bay in 2021.
“At the end of the game, when you’re just sitting there saying, ‘You know, the hockey gods have been in my corner many, many times.’ And tonight, they’re in the other corner, and that’s what happens,” said Cooper, who has led the franchise to four Final appearances and two titles.
“It’s not the movies. It’s not something you can retake and get the scene right. It’s life theater, right there in front of you, and you never know what’s gonna happen. That’s why it’s unbelievable to be a part of, to be part of something like this. But it damn well stings when you’re on the wrong side of it.”
ALSO READ: In an 'epic,' Lightning beat Canadiens 1-0 in overtime to force Game 7
Playing in front of their 461st consecutive sellout crowd and hundreds more fans watching from Thunder Alley outside Benchmark International Arena, the Lightning lost for the 11th time in their last 13 playoff games at home, including three times in this series.
“You can't lose three at home,” Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel said.
Nevertheless, the Lightning likely deserved a different fate.
Nick Suzuki opened the scoring, deflecting the puck off the leg of Tampa Bay’s J.J. Moser into the net with 1:21 left in the first period. That was Montreal’s fourth shot of the game.
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/2051096675930845673
After that, Tampa Bay’s defense held the Canadiens without a shot for nearly 27 minutes – a stretch that included the entire second period and 3:50 on the power play.
It was the first time in the Canadiens’ 117-year history that they were held without a shot on goal in a period during the postseason.
And Montreal became the first team to win a playoff game with fewer than 10 shots on goal since shots were first tracked in the 1959-60 season.
The Canadiens also were the first team to have zero shots in a playoff period since Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals against Nashville.
"You sit back here, obviously you're upset. It sucks, but there's not much more you can do,” Hagel said. “You give up zero shots in a second period, three shots in the third period, and you lose a hockey (game).
“You can't look at one guy in the room and say you didn’t do your thing. Yeah, well, I guess we didn't score more goals, obviously. It's a tough feeling, but that's the reality of hockey. It’s Game 7, and you lose.”
Meanwhile, Dominic James tipped in Charle-Edouard D’Astous’ one-timer from just inside the blue line to tie it at 1 on a power play in the second period.
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/2051083451101532500
“Sometimes you win the game and not the score,” Cooper said. “When it's Game 7, there's no moral victory.”
Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy managed to stay focused despite getting little work in front of the net. That’s what made the deflections more frustrating.
As the clock ticked under 9 minutes, Montreal’s Lane Hutson fired the puck from the left circle that Vasilevskiy’s blocker directed toward the end boards. As Newhook skated behind the net, he backhanded the pinballing puck out of the air off the goaltender’s back.
“Great hand-eye coordination by Newy,” Suzuki said. “He's been a big-game player. I'm definitely happy for him.”
Just before first intermission, with Tampa Bay playing with momentum, Nikita Kucherov lost coverage on Kaiden Guhle, who fired a shot that Suzuki redirected from the left hash. The puck was heading wide of the post, then hit Moser’s skate, changed direction and beat Vasilevskiy.
It was the Canadiens’ eighth shot of the game and their captain’s first goal of the playoffs after netting 29 during the regular season.
“It's a tough building to play in, it's a chaotic environment out there,” Suzuki said. “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.”
With Vasilevskiy pulled for the extra attacker, Hagel made an outstanding, sliding stick save in front of the empty net in the final minute, but the Lightning couldn't get the tying goal during a 6-on-5 – and 6-on-4 for the final 6 seconds after Montreal was called for delay of game.
https://twitter.com/TheHockeyNews/status/2051070596230840377
"I have zero complaints about any team I've ever coached for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but this team was different,” Cooper said. “They deserve better than what has happened to them, and it's too bad because of how hard they worked and committed and just did everything we asked.
“They just went out wearing their heart on their sleeve and gave everything they possibly could, and we just came up short. But it says a lot about the team and a lot of the players who are here."
Tampa Bay forced a Game 7 on Friday, when it broke a 0-0 tie on Gage Goncalves overtime goal to even the series at three games apiece. Vasilevskiy made 30 saves for his eighth career playoff shutout.
Montreal’s Martin St. Louis, a Hockey Hall of Famer whose No. 26 is retired by the Lightning, became the fifth player to appear in a Game 7 for a team and coach against them in another.
Although each game had similar scripts, he said different areas of his team stood out in each of the four victories.
https://twitter.com/worldhockeyrpt/status/2051101352781132232
“We have nine shots, 10 shots, right? And so, it felt like tonight, (the Lightning) deserved better. I felt like Game 6, we probably deserved better,” St. Louis said after Game 7. “You know, Dobes kind of stole the game, probably similar to the way (Vasilevskiy) stole Game 6.
“So, you need a little bit of everything, and I think that's what we got this series. Like, tonight, big goal by Suzy. And we got the bounce with Newy, right? So, it's not one thing.”
Montreal opens its Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Buffalo on Wednesday.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
SERIES RESULTS (best of seven)
Game 1 – Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (overtime)
Game 2 – Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (overtime)
Game 3 – Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (overtime)
Game 4 – Lightning 3, Canadiens 2
Game 5 – Canadiens 3, Lightning 2
Game 6 – Lightning 1, Canadiens 0 (overtime)
Game 7 – Canadiens 2, Lightning 1, Montreal wins sereis 4-3