Alex Newhook's OT goal lifts Canadiens past Sabres in Game 7 - ESPN

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Perhaps Alex Newhook should be renamed «Mr. Game 7.»

The Montreal Canadiens winger scored the overtime winner against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday in Game 7 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series, lifting his club to a 3-2 victory and a ticket to the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. It was the second straight series that Newhook ended in a Game 7 for the Canadiens, after pocketing the decisive marker in the final chapter of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Newhook is now the fourth Montreal player to score a Game 7 overtime winner and the first to so on the road.

«It's a crazy feeling,» Newhook said. «Lot of emotion. It was a war all series long, and for it to go to Game 7 overtime… that's your opportunity, and it sometimes takes one shot. See it cross the line and see if find the back of the net, it's a great feeling. It took everything we had to get through this series.»

Newhook admitted he thought perhaps teammate Jake Evans had tipped his shot in — and waited to see if Evans would celebrate — but soon realized it was his goal on the board that pushed Montreal onto the next round. Still, Newhook felt it was a combined effort that allowed the Canadiens to reach their second conference finals since making a Stanley Cup Final appearance in the pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign.

«I think we have all the pieces,» Newhook said. «We are a great team that plays with a lot of pace. In the playoffs, you need to have depth and get something from everyone in the lineup, and we have gotten that. We are confident, and we know what we are capable of.»

The Canadiens were in control early on Monday, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period off goals from