Flush it away and move ahead – that was the message from coach Martin St. Louis following the Montreal Canadiens’ collapse in a 3-1 lead on Saturday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres. St. Louis labeled the 8-3 loss as their worst playoff performance, emphasizing the immediate focus on the upcoming Game 7 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo rather than dwelling on missed opportunities.
The winner of tonight’s pivotal game will advance to face the well-rested and undefeated Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final, while the losing team will have to reflect on the ups and downs of a series filled with shifting momentum and unfortunate bounces. This Game 7 marks the 203rd in NHL playoff history and the second of 2026.
In a remarkable display of resilience, the Canadiens managed to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in their first-round Game 7 despite being significantly outshot. The game saw nine Canadiens players making their Game 7 debut, including rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš, who struggled in Game 6 against the Sabres before being replaced by Jacob Fowler.
Both teams have faced goaltending challenges, with the Sabres frequently switching between Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki expressed confidence in the team’s ability to handle the pressure of a win-or-go-home scenario, highlighting their past experience in the first round. Suzuki emphasized the team’s singular focus on winning tonight’s crucial game.