NHL: Alex Newhook, Canadiens find Game 7 success again, oust Sabres in OT

The Montreal Canadiens are headed to the Eastern Conference finals, thanks once again to Alex Newhook.

Newhook scored the game-winning goal at 11:22 of overtime as the Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series on Monday night in Buffalo.

The 24-year-old forward continued his clutch postseason run, recording his second Game 7 overtime winner of the playoffs after also scoring the decisive goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round.

“It’s fun,” Newhook said. “It’s why you play the game, and we played well enough to win.”

With the victory, Montreal advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2021 and will face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 on Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“We’re a confident group,” Newhook added. “We knew what we were capable of all year. I think we believed that we could keep going and bring this thing all the way.”

Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc also scored for Montreal, while goaltender Jakub Dobes stopped 37 shots.

Danault opened the scoring midway through the first period after redirecting a puck into the net for his first goal of the postseason. Bolduc later doubled the lead on a power-play one-timer late in the opening frame.

Buffalo battled back in the second and third periods. Jordan Greenway cut the deficit to 2-1 after a deflection in front of the net, before Rasmus Dahlin tied the game at 2-2 early in the third period.

The Sabres forced overtime for the first time in the series, but Newhook delivered again for Montreal, becoming the first Canadiens player to score a Game 7 overtime goal on the road.

“I’m sure everyone in Montreal is going nuts right now,” Newhook said. “We owe them a lot of credit. They showed up all season long.”

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves for Buffalo, which was seeking its first trip to the conference finals since 2007.

“It hurts, but that pain will go away,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “This one game doesn’t define our season for us.” -Field Level Media/Reuters