Here are my three takeaways from Montreal’s 3-2 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7.
1- The Canadiens bounce forward
The Montreal Canadiens remain perfect in the postseason coming off a loss and, as Martin St. Louis likes to say, they found a way to “bounce forward.”
It was a dream start, especially considering how important the opening goal is in a Game 7. Historically, teams that score first win roughly 75 percent of the time. Montreal capitalized on its early opportunities with Kaiden Guhle banking one in off Phillip Danault’s stick before Zach Bolduc ripped one under the bar on a power play that was just about to expire.
There’s so much credit to go around beyond the scoresheet. Josh Anderson, for example, got the puck deep and won a battle behind the net to keep the opening sequence alive. Defensively, the little things added up too. Alexandre Carrier had a terrific bounce-back game blocking shots, while Guhle played like a wrecking ball with the type of reckless abandon Montreal needs in its lineup.
And the list of contributors goes well beyond those names.
For the second time in these playoffs, the Canadiens lost Game 6 at home with a chance to clinch, only to win Game 7 on the road. Hockey can be funny that way, but Montreal has proven to be a road warrior and a team that plays its best hockey when facing adversity.
2- Dobes remains unflappable
The Canadiens needed to lean on their goaltender once again, and Jakub Dobes delivered.
Much like the rest of the team, Dobes has been sensational coming off losses, improving to 6-0 in those situations with a save percentage north of .940. In the first period alone, he had to bail Montreal out several times, including stopping Jack Quinn on a breakaway and robbing Beck Malenstyn on a Grade-A scoring chance.
The second period was an absolute onslaught. While the shots weren’t quite as lopsided as Game 7 against Tampa Bay, the ice was heavily tilted in Buffalo’s favour. Montreal generated chances mostly off the rush while spending long stretches hemmed in its own zone.
Dobes did everything in his power to keep the puck out of the net. He was aggressive around his crease, swinging his stick trying to disrupt plays and jumping on loose pucks whenever he could.
What he’s shown throughout these playoffs is that while he can be emotional and temperamental, he channels it in a productive way. When the moment gets biggest, he seems capable of completely locking in.
3- Depth scoring the difference
Once again, the star players largely cancelled each other out and special teams didn’t decide the game. Montreal’s depth came through again, which has become a recurring theme throughout the postseason.
Is it really a coincidence that Montreal’s only Stanley Cup champion, Alex Newhook, scored the Game 7 winner against Tampa Bay and then followed it up with the overtime winner against Buffalo?
Newhook was arguably Montreal’s best offensive player in the series with six goals in seven games, and he finished things in storybook fashion with a play every kid dreams about making while pretending to play Game 7 in the driveway.
Montreal’s role players all stepped up. Danault, Bolduc and Newhook scored the goals, but players like Carrier, Guhle, Anderson and Mike Matheson all executed their roles perfectly.
Credit also has to go to Buffalo. Their forecheck gave Montreal problems all series long and they controlled large stretches of Game 7. But much like the Tampa Bay series, the Canadiens bent without breaking.
Now Buffalo will spend the offseason wondering where some of its top players disappeared to, especially pending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch.
And things certainly won’t get easier for Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final. After surviving Buffalo’s relentless pressure, they now get the Carolina Hurricanes, a well-oiled machine that never deviates from its system and throws everything, including the kitchen sink, at the net.
Mitch Gallo is co-host of ‘Campbell vs. Gallo,’ as well as Canadiens pre- and post-game coverage on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. You can follow him on ‘X’ at @MitchyGallo.
