Newhook scores Game 7 winner as Canadiens beat Lightning 2-1

Alex Newhook scored newhook’s go-ahead goal at 11:07 of the third period, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 7 on Sunday at Benchmark International Arena.

The goal sent Montreal to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It also ended Tampa Bay’s season in the first round for the fourth consecutive season.

Montreal’s 2-1 Game 7 edge

Nick Suzuki opened the scoring for Montreal at 18:39 of the first period, and Dominic James answered for Tampa Bay before Newhook put the Canadiens back in front.

Jakub Dobes made 28 saves for Montreal, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made seven saves for Tampa Bay.

Nine shots, one series

Montreal finished Game 7 with nine shots on goal, and it had zero shots on goal in the second period, leaving the club 26:55 without a shot during that stretch.

All seven games in the series were decided by one goal, and four went to overtime, with the road team winning five of the seven games and Montreal taking three of four in Tampa.

Buffalo awaits Wednesday

Montreal will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, with Game 1 scheduled in Buffalo on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

After a series that turned on one-goal margins and a late third-period finish, Newhook’s goal leaves Montreal one round deeper and Tampa Bay heading into another early exit.