Canadiens Beat Lightning 2-1 in Game 7 — What Time Is The Habs Game Tonight
The Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 7 on Sunday night and moved into the second round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs. For anyone asking what time is the habs game tonight, the more immediate answer is that Montreal’s next series opener is set for Wednesday night in Buffalo, though the schedule here does not include a start time.
Montreal Ends Tampa Bay
Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook scored their first goals of the playoffs in the clincher, and Suzuki added one of Montreal’s two goals after leading the team in points against Buffalo this season. That finish sent the Canadiens past a Tampa Bay group that had pushed the series with one-goal games and four overtime decisions.
Juraj Slafkovsky’s hat trick in Game 1 kept Montreal in the fight early. By Game 7, Jakub Dobes had done his part at the other end, posting a 2.03 goals-against average and a.923 save percentage in the series while Montreal’s blue line logged heavy minutes through Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, and Kaiden Guhle.
Buffalo Waiting at KeyBank Center
The reward is a matchup with the Sabres, a team Montreal will face in the postseason for the eighth time. The Canadiens have won four of the seven prior series, own an 18-17 all-time playoff record against Buffalo, and split the 2025-26 season series at two wins apiece while each side scored 13 goals.
That history gives this round more than a fresh start. Nick Suzuki arrives with 26 all-time points against the Sabres in 21 contests, including eight points this season, while Cole Caufield scored four goals against Buffalo during the regular season. The first meeting in this series is set for Wednesday night in Buffalo, with Game 2 on Friday night, Game 3 on Sunday, and Game 4 on Tuesday.
Series Schedule Set
If the matchup goes long, Game 5 is scheduled for May 14 in Buffalo, Game 6 for May 16 in Montreal, and Game 7 for May 18 back at KeyBank Center. The Canadiens are also carrying the weight of their first series win since the 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final and their second postseason series victory over Tampa Bay, after the 2014 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
PIZZA PARTY ?#GoHabsGo /ZxG0GjmngJ
