Newhook’s OT Goal Propel Canadiens Past Sabres into Eastern Conference Finals

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The Montreal Canadiens are moving on, and they have a new postseason legend in the making.

In a heart-stopping, winner-take-all clash at KeyBank Center on Monday night, Alex Newhook cemented his place in Habs lore, scoring 11:22 into overtime to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a thrilling 3–2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

With the victory, Montreal clinches a chaotic, back-and-forth series and advances to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since their 2021 Stanley Cup Final run. They now march onward to face the formidable, well-rested Carolina Hurricanes.

The Heart-Stopping Finish

Game 7s are defined by moments of pure instinct, and Newhook found his just past the midway mark of the first overtime period. Driving hard up the left wing, the speedy forward approached the faceoff circle and snapped a wicked, deceptive shot through a heavy screen. The puck eluded Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, clanging inside the far post to send the Montreal bench spilling onto the ice in pure jubilation.

Incredibly, this marks Newhook’s second Game 7 game-winning goal of the 2026 postseason. He previously broke a 1–1 third-period tie against the Tampa Bay Lightning to clinch Montreal’s first-round series.

“He just has that clutch gene,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said post-game. “When the lights are brightest, Alex finds a way to put the team on his back. To do it twice in one playoff run is unbelievable.”

How the Regulation Battle Unfolded

The game was a grueling, physical chess match from the opening puck drop. Montreal struck first in the opening frame when young forward Zachary Bolduc found the back of the net, capitalizing on a crisp defensive transition to beat Luukkonen and give the Canadiens an early 1–0 cushion.

Buffalo responded with resilient home-ice pressure. Jordan Greenway ignited the KeyBank Center crowd by burying an equalizer past Montreal netminder Jakub Dobeš, capitalizing on a swift passing sequence from Beck Malenstyn and Ryan McLeod.

The teams traded blows into the later frames:

The Danault Deflection: Veteran center Phillip Danault restored Montreal’s lead later in the contest, using his frame to shield the puck and capitalize on a heavy point shot, making it 2–1.
The Captain’s Answer: With their season on the line in the third period, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin answered the call. At the 6:27 mark of the final frame, Dahlin unleashed a rocket from the blue line to tie the game at 2–2, ultimately forcing the sudden-death overtime period.

A Goaltending Masterclass

While Newhook will get the headlines, the Canadiens would not have survived the night without an extraordinary performance from rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš.

Faced with a relentless Buffalo onslaught—particularly in the second and third periods—Dobeš stood tall like a seasoned veteran. He turned aside a staggering 37 of 39 shots, including several high-danger, point-blank saves during a furious Buffalo power play late in regulation. On the other side of the ice, Luukkonen fought valiantly, making 22 saves on 25 shots in a losing effort.

Bitter Disappointment for a Breakout Buffalo Team

For the Sabres, the overtime loss is a crushing end to a historically significant season. Buffalo dropped to a brutal 1–7 all-time in Game 7 scenarios (including 1–3 in overtime).

However, the defeat shouldn’t overshadow what was a true breakout year for the franchise was. The Sabres successfully ended a frustrating, NHL-record 14-season playoff drought and captured the Atlantic Division title, establishing themselves as a legitimate powerhouse in the Eastern Conference for years to come.

Up Next: A Date with the Well-Rested Hurricanes

There is no rest for the victorious. The Canadiens immediately pivot to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they face a massive rest disadvantage against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Carolina has steamrolled through the postseason, sweeping both of their first two series. The Hurricanes haven’t played a game since defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime back on May 9. Their 11-day layoff between playoff rounds marks the longest break in NHL history.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled to puck drop on Thursday night at PNC Arena in Raleigh. If the battle-tested Canadiens have proven anything over the last month, it’s that they are more than comfortable playing the role of the ultimate underdog.