The Sabres and Canadiens entered a high‑stakes Game 7 at the Bell Centre, each hoping to write a new chapter in their playoff histories. Buffalo, down 3‑1 in the series, needed a spark, while Montreal clung to a perfect 12‑0 record when leading by two or more goals in a Game 7.
Early in the first period, the Canadiens struck first, with Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc lighting the scoreboard. Yet the Sabres answered back, and Jordan Greenway’s gritty effort added a goal to keep the contest alive.
The tide turned in the third period when Rasmus Dahlin, the 23‑year‑old defenseman, redirected a pass from Owen Power past Jakub Dobes, tying the game at 2‑2 with 6:27 left on the clock. The goal ignited a surge of energy that rippled through the arena.
Between the net‑front scramble and the final buzzer, goaltender Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen turned away 20 shots, while Dobes made 32 saves, including a spectacular denial of rookie Konsta Helenius alone in front with 8:03 remaining. The defensive duel set the stage for overtime.
Overtime Heroics
Overtime arrived with both teams searching for the decisive blow. The Sabres’ relentless forecheck forced the Canadiens into a scramble, and Dahlin’s earlier assist from Power proved pivotal as the puck found its way to the net.
With the win, Buffalo secures a berth in the Eastern Conference finals, where they will meet the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes, fresh after a 3‑2 overtime victory over Philadelphia on May 9, have swept each of their first two series and sit poised to test the Sabres’ momentum.
Historically, the Sabres now stand on the brink of joining the 1950 Red Wings as the only NHL team to overcome multigoal deficits in both Game 6 and Game 7 of a series. The prospect of facing a Hurricanes squad that has been off the ice since early May adds an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming showdown.