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Canadiens Edge Lightning 2-1 in Game 7, Advance.

5/4/2026

36 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Canadiens Advance

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–1 in Game 7 to reach the Eastern Conference second round.
Game 1 starts Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in Buffalo, with Games 2-7 set for May 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18.
Buffalo holds home-ice advantage as Atlantic Division champions; Montreal entered as the No. 3 seed with 106 points.
All games will be exclusive on TNT, truTV, HBO Max, ESPN and streamed on the Sabres’ digital platforms.

Summary

Hurricanes Clinch Seed

Hurricanes captured the Eastern top seed for the first time, finishing 53-22-7 (113 points).
Their eight-year playoff run tied a league record as the third team with eight straight series wins.
After a 5-0 sweep of Ottawa, the Canes entered second round unbeaten and never allowed more than two goals.
Their penalty kill rose to a league-best 96 % (24-for-25) in Game 1, when goalie Frederik Andersen posted a 19-save shutout.

History

Historical Context

The New York Islanders, after a 12-game unbeaten run sparked by acquiring Butch Goring, won their first Stanley Cup on May 24 1980, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers and beginning a four-year dynasty. Over four decades later, the Montreal Canadiens’ 2024 playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning echoes that dominant, sweep-style path, underscoring how historic postseason momentum still shapes Eastern Conference power balances.

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Canadiens Advance

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–1 in Game 7 to reach the Eastern Conference second round.
Game 1 starts Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in Buffalo, with Games 2-7 set for May 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18.
Buffalo holds home-ice advantage as Atlantic Division champions; Montreal entered as the No. 3 seed with 106 points.
All games will be exclusive on TNT, truTV, HBO Max, ESPN and streamed on the Sabres’ digital platforms.

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