Badly outshot Canadiens knock off Lightning in Game 7: Highlights

The Montreal Canadiens showed in Game 7 that it doesn't matter how many shots you get, it's what you do with them.

Montreal is heading to a second-round matchup with the Buffalo Sabres despite being outshot 29-9 and getting no shots in the second period of a 2-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's the fewest shots taken in an NHL playoff win.

They prevailed on Sunday, May 3, because Jakub Dobes was nearly unbeatable in the Montreal net and Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook had impressive goals. Suzuki beat Andrei Vasilevskiy on a deflection that also banked off a Lightning defender.

Newhook, meanwhile, batted a rebound out of the air and off Vasilevskiy in the third period.

Dominic James was the only Lightning player to beat Dobes, scoring on a deflection in the second period.

The Lightning were knocked out in the first round for the fourth year in a row and it will be the first time since 2019 that a Florida team hasn't reached the Stanley Cup Final.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates on Game 7 of the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens first round series. Here are highlights:

Canadiens vs. Lightning Game 7 highlights

What's next for the Montreal Canadiens?

They advance to the second round to face the Buffalo Sabres, starting Wednesday, May 6 on the road. The teams split the season series 2-2.

What's next for the Tampa Bay Lightning?

The biggest offseason question is unrestricted free agent Darren Raddysh, who had a career-best 70 points while Victor Hedman dealt with various absences. Hedman missed the playoffs for personal reasons, but has three years left on his contract. Their other key pending UFAs are Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry. Leading scorer Nikita Kucherov is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.

Final score: Canadiens 2, Lightning 1

The Canadiens block a Nikita Kucherov shot and the game is over. Montreal, despite being badly outshot. wins 2-1 on a brilliant Alex Newhook goal and moves to the second round to face the Buffalo Sabres.

Lightning go on power play

Mike Matheson puts the puck over the glass. It's a 6-on-4 power play for Tampa Bay with 6.3 seconds left.

Great play by Brandon Hagel

He reaches out and prevents Juraj Slafkovsky from scoring an empty net goal.

Lightning pull goalie

They have six skaters on as they push for a tying goal.

3 minutes left

2-1 Montreal.

Canadiens score: Alex Newhook gives Montreal lead

What a play by Newhook. He's circling behind the net when a rebound comes near him. He bats it out of the air and off of Andrei Vasilevskiy at 11:07 of the third period. That was Montreal's eighth shot of the game. Canadiens 2, Lightning 1

Tampa Bay puts on defensive clinic

The Canadiens put on their first sustained pressure in a long time, but the Lightning block six shots.

Montreal finally gets a shot

Nick Suzuki is stopped by Andrei Vasilevskiy. He was the last Canadiens player to get a shot, his deflection goal late in the first period. Shots are now 22-5 Tampa Bay.

Third period underway

Tied 1-1, a tight game just like the rest of the series.

End of second period: Lightning 1, Canadiens 1

Good period by Tampa Bay and not good by Montreal. The Canadiens are held without a shot and the Lightning get 12. Tampa Bay finally gets one past Jakub Dobes as Dominic James tips in a shot from Charle-Edouard D'Astous.

Canadiens go on power play

Tampa Bay called for too many men on the ice. Montreal still looking for its first shot of the period. This could be an opportunity. The Canadiens don't get a shot and the Lightning kill the penalty.

Lightning score: Dominic James ties game on power play

Tampa Bay finally solves Jakub Dobes on its 20th shot of the game and it scores the same way that Montreal, with a deflection. Lightning 1, Canadiens 1.

Lightning go on power play

Kaiden Guhle is called for holding.

Midway through second period

Tampa Bay leads 9-0 in shots in this period and 18-4 overall, but Montreal has a 1-0 lead because goalie Jakub Dobes has been stellar.

Lightning go on power play

Tampa Bay is pressing and Mike Matheson hauls down Anthony Cirelli. Tampa Bay gets good looks and is outshooting Montreal 7-0 in the period. But Nikita Kucherov gives away the puck and Brayden Point holds Alex Newhook, negating the rest of the power play. Montreal doesn't convert on its power play so still 1-0 Canadiens.

Second period underway

1-0 Canadiens.

End of first period: Canadiens 1, Lightning 0

Tampa Bay had the territorial edge in that period, outshooting Montreal 9-4. But as often happens in hockey, it can take just one play to make a difference. That happened late in the period when Nick Suzuki got a deflection goal that also took a fortunate bounce as Montreal beat Andrei Vasilevskiy for the first time since 1:06 of the third period of Game 5.

Canadiens score: Nick Suzuki opens scoring

Suzuki gets a tip on a shot by Kaiden Guhle. It also deflects off Tampa Bay's J.J. Moser before going past Andrei Vasilevskiy at 18:39. Canadiens 1, Lightning 0

Lightning dangerous

The Lightning break in on a 2-on-1 and Game 6 overtime scorer Gage Goncalves makes a great move, but Jakub Dobes stops his shot.

Juraj Slafkovsky hits post

He has a hat trick in Game 1 but nothing since. He hits the post then Andrei Vasilevskiy stops his follow-up chance.

5 minutes in

Shots are 3-1 Lightning.

Game underway

Winner will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round.

How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning Game 7

• Date: May 3
• Time: 6 p.m. ET
• Channel (United States): TNT, truTV
• Stream: Sling TV, HBO Max

Where is Canadiens vs Lightning Game 7

The Lightning will host the Canadiens at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa for Game 7.

Lightning lines

Canadiens lines

Canadiens vs Lightning predictions

Kevin Skiver: Tampa Bay Lightning 2, Montreal Canadiens 1

Despite picking the Lightning to win this series, I feel a lot less confident than I previously did. However, we got the Andrei Vasilevskiy goalie-ing of a lifetime in Game 6, and it may well take another in Game 7. Vasilevskiy has allowed one goal on 49 shots in his last two Game 7s after starting his career 0-2 in them. Jakub Dobes, however, has been just as good all series. If anyone but Vasilevskiy, short of 2003 Jean-Sebastien Giguere, is in net for the previous game at the Bell Centre, we're already previewing Sabres-Habs. This game could go either way, so the tiebreaker is the initial pick.

Jace Evans: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2

I picked Canadiens in 7 before the series and I’m going to stick with it … but there’s no denying that “momentum” has swung the Lightning’s way. Still, Montreal has hung extremely tough in this series and I think the Habs have the high-end skill to get this done on the road.

Mike Brehm: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2

I picked the Lightning to reach the Stanley Cup Final, so it makes sense to pick them to win this game. They have lost two of three at home but Vasilevskiy rebounded well from giving up a bad goal in Game 5. The Lightning have mostly shut down the Canadiens' top line after Game 1, while Lightning forward Brandon Hagel has been a force. Plus, the Lightning are 4-1 all-time in Game 7s at home.

Canadiens vs Lightning betting odds

• Spread: Lightning -1.5
• Over/under: 5 goals
• Moneyline: Tampa Bay Lightning -160 | Montreal Canadiens +135