Canadiens down Sabres in OT after blowing Game 7 lead | Highlights

The Montreal Canadiens are heading to the Eastern Conference finals after a second consecutive Game 7 road win and another clutch performance by Alex Newhook.

They beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Newhook's goal at 11:21 of overtime on Monday, May 18, and will face the Carolina Hurricanes on the road, starting Thursday, May 21. Newhook also scored the series-clinching Game 7 goal in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes also played a big role, making 37 saves after being pulled in an 8-3 loss in Game 6. He told ESPN after Monday's game that he took being pulled at home personally and worked to make sure he was prepared for Game 7.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who had been pulled in Game 5 but stopped all 18 shots he faced in relief of pulled Alex Lyon in Game 6, started for Buffalo on Monday. He made several big saves in regulation but was upset that he let in the Newhook goal.

Montreal took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Phillip Danault and Zach Bolduc. Buffalo took over the game after the first intermission, and Jordan Greenway and Rasmus Dahlin scored to force overtime.

Host Buffalo fell to 2-5 at KeyBank Center in the 2026 playoffs, while Montreal improved to 6-2 on the road.

USA TODAY provided live coverage of Game 7 of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series. Here are highlights:

Sabres vs. Canadiens highlights

Final score: Canadiens 3, Sabres 2 (OT)

Alex Newhook beats Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the top of the faceoff circle at 11:22 of overtime. Newhook also had the series-clinching goal in Game 7 against Tampa Bay in the first round.

10 minutes in

Shots are 3-2 Buffalo in overtime. The Canadiens also hit the crossbar.

Big save by Jakub Dobes

Tage Thompson is stopped in close. Jake Evans slowed him down.

Good defensive play by Alex Tuch

His stick broke but he blocks a shot with his skate to get the puck out of the zone.

Overtime underway

Score is 2-2. Winner goes to the Eastern Conference finals.

End of third period

We're headed to overtime as Buffalo completed a comeback from a 2-0 deficit on a Rasmus Dahlin goal.

2 minutes left

Still 2-2.

Nearly 5 minutes left

Jakub Dobes stops a hard-charging Rasmus Dahlin. Still 2-2.

Sabres appear to score, but it's waved off

Referee blows the whistle, thinking Jakub Dobes froze the puck, but it trickles through and the Sabres pounce and score. But no goal because the whistle blew.

Sabres score: Rasmus Dahlin ties game

Rasmus Dahlin pinches in, takes a pass in the faceoff circle and beats Jakub Dobes before the goalie can get over there. Sabres 2, Canadiens 2

Jason Zucker runs over Jakub Dobes

Jakub Dobes freezes the puck and Jason Zucker collides with him. Dobes complains but no penalty.

Buffalo goes on power play

The Sabres get their first power play as Phillip Danault is called for high-sticking. Danault is a key penalty killer. Buffalo doesn't get much pressure and the penalty is killed.

Third period underway

2-1 Montreal. Winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals.

End of second period: Canadiens 2, Sabres 1

It seemed like Buffalo spent nearly all of that period in the Montreal end. Buffalo made it a one-goal game when Mattias Samuelsson's shot deflected in off Jordan Greenway's pants. The Sabres had other glorious chances in the final minutes. Montreal will have to figure out a way to stop that.

Sabres pressuring again

Alex Tuch is stopped twice and then Ryan McLeod. After the next faceoff, Jakub Dobes makes a shoulder save on Tage Thompson.

Jordan Greenway awarded goal

An ESPN replay shows that Mattias Samuelsson's shot brushed against Jordan Greenway's pants before going into the net. And the summary says Greenway.

Sabres score: Mattias Samuelsson gets first Buffalo goal

All that pressure and cycling pays off. Mattias Samuelsson grabs a loose puck in the slot and his shot banks in off Josh Anderson. Canadiens 2, Sabres 1

Sabres are pressuring

Buffalo spends more than a minute in the Montreal zone, but a few blocks and a Jakub Dobes glove save on Alex Tuch keeps the Sabres scoreless.

Josh Anderson slow to get up

The Canadiens player shoots high on a breakaway and then crashes into the net. He's now on the bench.

Buffalo power play taken away

Montreal is called for a four-minute high-sticking penalty, but a replay showed it was Zach Benson who caught teammate Josh Norris with a high stick. Penalty rescinded.

Second period underway

2-0 Montreal. Winner goes to the Eastern Conference finals.

End of first period: Canadiens 2, Sabres 0

Montreal gets goals from Phillip Danault and Zach Bolduc for the lead. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen can't be blamed for either. The first goal went off a skate and there was a defensive breakdown on the second goal. Luukkonen kept it a two-goal game by stopping Alexandre Texier on a breakaway. Jakub Dobes is solid in the Montreal net. He's 5-0 after a loss in these playoffs. Shots are 11-9 Montreal.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen save

The Sabres goalie stops Alexandre Texier on a breakaway.

Canadiens score: Zach Bolduc gets power-play goal

Zach Bolduc is left alone in the faceoff circle and Nick Suzuki feeds him on a no-look pass for a power-play goal. Canadiens 2, Sabres 0

Canadiens go on power play

Zach Benson puts the puck over the glass while attempting a clear after Cole Caufield's chances, and Montreal scores.

Big saves by Ukko-Pekka Luukonen

He makes two glove saves on Cole Caufield then Buffalo takes a penalty.

Sabres are pressuring

Jakub Dobes makes a save on a Jack Quinn partial breakaway, then the Sabres continue applying pressure. Dobes finally dives on the puck to stop play.

10 minutes in

1-0 Canadiens. Shots are 6-3 Buffalo.

Canadiens score: Phillip Danault opens scoring

Another early goal in this series. Phillip Danault deflects in a Kaiden Guhle shot at 4:30. It goes in off his skate. Danault is appearing in his fourth Game 7. Canadiens 1, Sabres 0

Game underway

Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen vs. Montreal's Jakub Dobes in net. Starting lines are the Alex Tuch vs. Alex Newhook.

What time is Sabres vs. Canadiens Game 7?

Game 7 is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Buffalo's KeyBank Center.

What TV channel is Sabres vs. Canadiens Game 7?

Game 7 will be broadcast on ESPN.

Sabres vs. Canadiens Game 7: How to watch, stream

• Date: Monday, May 18
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: KeyBank Center
• TV: ESPN
• Streaming: Fubo

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to start for Sabres

He picked up the Game 6 win in relief, stopping all 18 shots he faced.

Buffalo Sabres lines

Montreal Canadiens lines

Sabres, Canadiens coaches' Game 7 records

Buffalo's Lindy Ruff is 1-4 and Montreal's Martin St. Louis is 1-0, the Game 7 win from the first round.

Sabres vs Canadiens Game 7 predictions

Mike Brehm: Sabres 5, Canadiens 3. History would seem to favor the Canadiens, who have forced Sabres coach Lindy Ruff to make a goalie change the last two games. But the Sabres stormed back and chased goalie Jakub Dobes in their 8-3 win in Game 6. Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson played big roles and they will again, even without any Game 7 experience.

Kevin Skiver: Sabres 6, Canadiens 4. Both teams are scoring a lot lately, and a mix of fatigue and familiarity may well be a factor. Buffalo gets to play Game 7 at home having staved off elimination, and that will give the Sabres a big boost. With Montreal going into its 14th game this postseason, the Sabres advance to see a Carolina Hurricanes team that is undoubtedly just itching to play again at this point.

Game 7 winning goal

Montreal's Alex Newhook is the only player in this series with a winning goal in a Game 7. He scored the tiebreaking goal with 8:53 left in the third period in the first round at Tampa Bay.

Canadiens, Sabres Game 7 record

The Canadiens are 16-9 all-time in Game 7s and can set an NHL record for most Game 7 victories if they win. They're currently tied with the Boston Bruins (16-15). The Sabres, meanwhile, are 1-6 all-time in Game 7s.