Tampa, Florida — The montreal canadiens Took maximum advantage of his limited opportunities.
alex newhook The tie was broken with 8:53 remaining, and Montreal – with only nine shots on goal – went ahead. tampa bay lightning 2-1 in Game 7 on Sunday night to conclude a thrilling first-round series in the Eastern Conference.
According to ESPN Research, Montreal’s shot total was the second-lowest in a playoff game since shots on goal were first officially tracked during the 1959–60 season, and the lowest in that time period for a winning team. Toronto Maple Leafs Posted only six in a 2000 series against New Jersey Devils. However, Toronto lost that game and the series to New Jersey, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Canadians still have a long way to go before reaching that level. But they will continue on their way when they face off this week buffalo saber In the second round. Game 1 is Wednesday night in New York.
rookie goaltender jacob dobbs Made 28 saves, and nick suzuki Got his first goal of the series for Montreal, who earned their first series win since losing to Tampa Bay in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.
Lightning coach John Cooper said, “Sometimes, you win the game, not the score. When it’s a Game 7, there’s no moral victory.” “There’s some disbelief in our room that we can play like this, and not walk away with anything. We couldn’t play better than this, and it still wasn’t good enough. You’ve got to raise your cap.”
Each game of the series was decided by one goal, and four games went to extra time. In seven games the score was tied or within one goal at all times except six minutes.
Suzuki said, “It’s a tough building to play in; there’s a chaotic atmosphere.” “We’ve been a good road team all season. We knew we had to come here, and anything can happen in Game 7.”
The Lightning were eliminated in the first round for the fourth consecutive season after falling two wins short of a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022.
Tampa Bay’s tight defense held the Canadiens without a shot for nearly 27 minutes from the first period to the third period and just four minutes in the second period. Brandon Hagel Made an excellent, sliding stick save with an open net in the final minute, but the Lightning couldn’t score the tying goal on Dobbs during a 6-on-5 and 6-on-4 for the final six seconds.
“I just try my best, try to be the best I can be,” Dobbs said in his postgame interview on TNT. “I try to improve every day and it’s working. I’m really happy with my progress, but the job isn’t done.”
Montreal got a few lucky bounces to score twice on their first eight shots on goal. after lane hutson Slapped a shot that went wide and bounced back, Newhook backhanded the puck out of the air and into the offseason. Andrei VasilevskyPad and its back side.
Suzuki said, “Brilliant hand-eye coordination by Newey.” “He’s been a big-game player. I’m definitely happy for him.”
Playing in front of their 461st consecutive sellout and hundreds of 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 losses in the series.
“You can’t lose three games at home,” Hagel said.
The Canadiens didn’t have a single shot on net in the second period despite two power-play opportunities. They became the first team to take zero shots in a playoff period since Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals against Nashville.
dominic james tipped in Charles-Edouard d’Estous‘ A one-timer from just inside the blue line tied it 1-1 on the power play in the second period.
Suzuki opened the scoring with 1:21 remaining in the first game. After scoring 29 goals in the regular season, Suzuki needed a lucky surge to get one. redirect it Caden Guhle‘s slap shot was going wide, but the puck hit the Lightning defenseman JJ Moser And went inside.
Montreal’s Martin St. Louis, a Hockey Hall of Famer whose number 26 is retired by the Lightning, became the fifth player to appear in a Game 7 for one team and coach against them in another.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
