Canadiens head to Tampa to settle hard-fought series in Game 7 against the Lightning

Four overtimes. Six one-goal games. A single two-goal lead — lasting just 5:37 — in 360 minutes of hockey.

It's only right that the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning are headed to Game 7 in a first-round series defined by razor-thin margins.

"It's so even, from the special teams to the goaltending to the everything," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.

"That's how you get Game 7s. To win this, I mean, you're going to have a special game from your team, and I'm assuming that the team that wins is probably going to get one more break than the other one."

The two sides will decide Sunday in Tampa, Fla., who advances to face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round after the Lightning staved off elimination Friday with an epic 1-0 overtime win in Game 6 at the Bell Centre.

Gage Goncalves scored the winner 9:03 into overtime, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves in a spectacular goaltending duel with Jakub Dobes.

The Canadiens missed a chance to clinch a series in front of a full-capacity home crowd — something they haven't done since 2014 — and to advance past the first round for the first time since their 2021 run to the Stanley Cup final.

As disappointing as it was, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis framed the loss and upcoming Game 7 as an opportunity for his inexperienced group — the youngest team in the playoffs — to grow.

Only six players remain from that surprising, pandemic-era run that ended with a loss in five games to the Lightning.

"It's meant to be, it's destiny for our young team," St. Louis said. "A lot of players haven't taken part in a Game 7, I think that's part of our path and you have to embrace the moment. It's about getting back up and let's go.

"You can't buy these reps like this. These guys are