Sabres eliminate Canadiens in Game 7 rout to reach Eastern Conference Final
Rasmus Dahlin records five points and rookie goaltender secures win as Sabres complete stunning comeback
The Buffalo Sabres have advanced to the Eastern Conference Final after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 8-3 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Monday, 18 May 2026. The victory eliminates the Canadiens from the Stanley Cup Playoffs and sets up a series against the Carolina Hurricanes. The match, held at the Sabres' home arena with a 7:30 p.m. ET puck drop broadcast on ESPN, marked the first-ever Game 7 meeting between the two franchises.
Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin recorded five points, comprising one goal and four assists, to tie the franchise record for a playoff game. He became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a game when facing elimination. The Sabres also saw significant contributions from forward Tage Thompson, who recorded a goal and three helpers despite having not scored in three of the first five games of the series.
Rookie goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves to secure the win after being reinstated following a previous loss to Alex Lyon. Luukkonen had been benched in both home starts this postseason but became only the sixth goalie in NHL history to win an elimination game after coming off the bench. His performance helped Buffalo score seven unanswered goals, making them only the fourth team in the past 30 years to achieve this feat in an elimination game.
The Canadiens faced a historic collapse after taking a 3-1 lead midway through the first period. Montreal became the first team on record, since real-time shot data tracking began in 2010, to convert on each of its first three shots in a playoff game and still lose at home. Goaltender Jakub Dobes was pulled after allowing six goals on 33 shots, marking the first time since 1990 that both starting goalies were pulled in a potential series-clinching game.
Buffalo’s record in Game 7s stands at 1-6 all-time, while the Canadiens are 16-9. The Sabres’ eight goals in an elimination game represent the second-most in team history for such a contest. The team will now prepare for the Eastern Conference Final, having secured their second multi-goal comeback win of the playoffs, tying a franchise record set in 1980 and 1983.
