| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| TBL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Canadiens, First Round Game 7, beat Lightning 2–1 at AMALIE Arena on May 3, 2026.
The Montreal Canadiens have emerged victorious in a nail-biting Game 7, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in the First Round of the playoffs. With this win, the Canadiens clinched the series 4-3, sending them to the next stage of the postseason while ending the Lightning's quest for the Stanley Cup.
The series was a hard-fought battle, with both teams trading punches throughout. The Canadiens now hold a decisive 4-3 lead in the series, successfully overcoming the Lightning's home-ice advantage in this elimination game. The pressure was palpable for the Lightning, who needed a win to extend their playoff hopes, but they fell just short on their home ice.
The momentum of the game shifted in the third period. After the Lightning tied the game with Dominic James' goal at 13:27 of the second period, it seemed they were set to ride the wave of home crowd support. However, the Canadiens responded with a critical goal from Alex Newhook at 11:07 in the third period, assisted by Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle. This goal not only restored the Canadiens' lead but also shifted the dynamic of the game back in their favor, putting immense pressure on the Lightning in the final stages.
For the Canadiens, Nick Suzuki set the tone early with the opening goal at 18:39 in the first period. The contributions from young stars Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle proved vital, both logging assists on Newhook's game-winner. Despite being heavily outshot 29-9, the Canadiens displayed resilience, capitalizing on their opportunities and making every shot count.
On the Lightning's side, Dominic James’ goal gave their fans a glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t enough. Although they registered 29 shots, their inability to convert more scoring chances, combined with the Canadiens' focused defensive efforts, sealed their fate in this tightly contested match.
With the Canadiens advancing, they will look to build on their momentum as they prepare for their next opponent in the second round of the playoffs. For the Lightning, it’s a long offseason to reflect on a season that ended in disappointment after such a strong campaign.
Canadiens won 2–1.
The final score was Canadiens 2, Lightning 1.
Alex Newhook, Nick Suzuki.
Dominic James.
Jakub Dobes made 28 saves on 29 shots (.966 save percentage).
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 7 saves on 9 shots (.778 save percentage).
At AMALIE Arena in Tampa, the Lightning home rink.
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