Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Game 7: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres

Start time: 7:30 PM EDT / 4:30 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: RDS (French)
In the Sabres region: MSG Buffalo
Streaming: Prime Monday Night Hockey, RDS

With Samuel Montembeault struggling to find his typical form, the Canadiens will turn to Jakub Dobeš in net once again. Montembeault has a 2-2-0 record from his four start and a surprising .857 save percentage, while Dobeš is yet to lose a game in 2025-26 with his mark of .940. It will be Dobeš’s sixth start at the Bell Centre of what will be 18 total since joining the team late last December.

Buffalo counters with Alex Lyon, as their starter is out for a different reason. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been week-to-week with a lower-body injury since the pre-season. Lyon has been doing everything the Sabres could have asked from him as he’s been thrust into the starter’s role, playing all five games so far and responding by posting a .929 save percentage. Buffalo’s slow start had nothing to do with the goaltending, but Montreal was able to score five on him as a member of the Detroit Red Wings last season, and four in a meeting the previous year.

The Canadiens don’t need to change a whole lot of anything after losing on Saturday night to the New York Rangers. It was a difficult stretch to begin the third period that spoiled what was otherwise a stifling effort versus one of the top possession teams. Staying focused for the full 60 minutes will be the best way to contain the Sabres and get back in the win column.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Left Wing
Centre
Right Wing

#13 Cole Caufield
#14 Nick Suzuki
#20 Juraj Slafkovský

#15 Alex Newhook
#91 Oliver Kapanen
#93 Ivan Demidov

#17 Josh Anderson
#71 Jake Evans
#11 Brendan Gallagher

#76 Zachary Bolduc
#90 Joe Veleno
#62 Owen Beck

Left Defence
Right Defence

#8 Mike Matheson
#53 Noah Dobson

#47 Jayden Struble
#48 Lane Hutson

#72 Arber Xhekaj
#45 Alexandre Carrier

Starter
Backup

#75 Jakub Dobeš
#35 Samuel Montembeault

Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle. Patrik Laine

Buffalo Sabres projected lineup

Left Wing
Centre
Right Wing

Zach Benson
Jiri Kulich
Tage Thompson

Josh Doan
Ryan McLeod
Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker
Peyton Krebs
Jack Quinn

Josh Dunne
Tyson Kozak
Noah Ostlund

Left Defence
Right Defence

Bowen Byram
Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power
Conor Timmins

Mattias Samuelsson
Zach Metsa

Starter
Backup

Alex Lyon
Colten Ellis