The Second Round series between Montreal and Buffalo is set to exchange one electric atmosphere for another and shift from the banks of the St. Lawrence River back to the eastern shores of Lake Erie when the teams tangle in the second Game 7 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight.
* The Canadiens look to bounce back from an 8-3 loss in their previous contest, while the Sabres are set to snap another lengthy drought by hosting a Game 7 for the first time in more than 25 years. Teams have an all-time record of 3-2 in Game 7s after allowing eight goals in their last outing.
* Montreal will become the latest Canadian team to play a Game 7 on Victoria Day and will do so in “Queen City.” The federal Canadian public holiday is observed on the last Monday before May 25 to honor Queen Victoria.
CANADIENS and SABRES SET TO Cap SECOND ROUND WITH WINNER-TAKE-ALL GAME 7
The Canadiens and Sabres are set to conclude the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs by contesting a winner-take-all Game 7 with an Eastern Conference Final berth on the line. The victor will go on to face the Hurricanes in the series opener at Lenovo Center on Thursday.
* Montreal (16-9 in 25 GP) needs one Game 7 win to pass Boston (16-15 in 31 GP) for the most in NHL history and can extend its League record for most road victories (8-6 in 14 GP). The Canadiens’ totals include a 2-1 win against the Lightning at Benchmark International Arena in the 2026 First Round finale.
* Montreal will play multiple Game 7s in a postseason for the third time in franchise history (also 2010 & 1971), with each previous instance involving two road wins. The Canadiens are 3-0 in their last three Game 7s dating to the 2014 Second Round finale and can tie the longest winning streak in club history (4-0 from 2004 CQF – 2010 CSF & 1965 SCF – 1979 SF).
* The Sabres will play their first winner-take-all showdown since Game 7 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals and first at home since the 2001 Conference Semifinals finale. Buffalo (1-6 in 7 GP) can earn its second Game 7 win in franchise history after a 3-2 overtime victory versus Ottawa at Marine Midland Arena (now KeyBank Center) in the 1997 Conference Quarterfinals finale.
* The Sabres are set to become the sixth team in NHL history to play a Game 7 after scoring eight goals in their last contest, with one of the previous instances also involving Buffalo (3-2 L in 1992 DSF). The other clubs were the Blues (5-3 L in 1995 CQF), Canucks (5-0 W in 1992 DSF), Maple Leafs (7-3 L in 1976 QF) and Canadiens (4-2 W in 1971 QF).
SECOND ROUND FINALE set TO FEATURE MIX OF GAME 7 VETERANS AND DEBUTS
Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson are among a group of several Sabres set to make their Game 7 debut, while Brendan Gallagher and Alex Tuch could add another winner-take-all showdown to their resume:
* Dahlin and Thompson are set to follow up historic performances from Saturday, with the former needing one point to tie the most by an NHL defenseman in a series from Game 6-7 (Ian Turnbull; 1-5—6 in 1976 QF). Dahlin also requires two points to match the League’s highest single-series total by a blueliner when facing elimination (Al MacInnis; 1-6—7 in 1984 DF).
* Gallagher (1-2—3 in 3 GP; 3-0 record) and Phillip Danault (0-1—1 in 3 GP; 2-1 record) are the only Montreal players that have contested more than two career Game 7s. The former is one of three current Canadiens with multiple Game 7 points, along with Nick Suzuki (1-1—2 in 2 GP; 2-0 record) and Kaiden Guhle (0-2—2 in 1 GP; 1-0 record) who both found the score sheet in the 2026 First Round finale.
* Alex Newhook (1-0—1 in 2 GP; 1-1 record) notched the tiebreaking goal with 8:53 remaining in regulation during Montreal’s series-clinching victory versus Tampa Bay. He can become the 14th player in NHL history with multiple Game 7 winners in his career as well as the third active skater among that group after Wyatt Johnston and Bryan Rust (both w/ 2).
* Jakub Dobes (1-0 in 1 GP; 1.00 GAA, .966 SV%) can become the third goaltender in franchise history with two Game 7 wins in a single postseason (also Jaroslav Halak in 2010 & Ken Dryden in 1971) and the NHL’s sixth rookie to achieve the feat after Dryden, Jordan Binnington (2019), Cam Ward (2006), Felix Potvin (1993) and Mike Vernon (1986). Matt Murray is the only other rookie netminder in League history with two Game 7 wins, which he achieved across two postseasons from 2016 to 2017.
* Tuch (1-1—2 in 3 GP; 2-1 record) and Tanner Pearson (2-1—3 in 4 GP; 3-1 record) are the only Sabres with multiple career points in Game 7s, although Pearson has yet to play this postseason. Tuch can snap a six-game scoring drought and help the Sabres eliminate the Canadiens, who chose his brother, Luke, with the No. 47 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft – the siblings grew up in Baldwinsville, N.Y. next door to Tim Connolly, who played in the Sabres’ last series that needed a Game 7.
QUICK CLICKS
* Sabres hope to bring road mentality into Game 7 at home; Canadiens eager to ‘bounce forward’
* Frederik Andersen‘s puck-handling skills are ‘huge asset’ for Hurricanes in Stanley Cup Playoffs
* Avalanche finding ‘emotional balance’ ahead of Western Final
* Rasmus Andersson hit ‘reset button’ to help Golden Knights to West Final
* NHL EDGE stats for Sabres–Canadiens Game 7
