{"id":646504,"date":"2026-05-04T05:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T05:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/646504\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T05:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T05:01:17","slug":"hidden-game-canadiens-advance-to-second-round-of-playoffs-thanks-to-dobes-and-newhook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/646504\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Game: Canadiens advance to second round of playoffs thanks to Dobes and Newhook"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alex Newhook, all is forgiven.<\/p>\n

Newhook, the speedy Canadiens centre, has often said he\u2019s capable of being a top-six forward<\/a> for the team. But he has battled injuries and played only 42 games this season, fracturing his ankle on Nov. 13 against Dallas. He scored a modest 13 goals and 12 assists.<\/p>\n

And like many of his teammates, Newhook was offensively challenged in Montreal\u2019s opening-round playoff series against Tampa Bay \u2014\u00a0held to one assist through six games. But that no longer matters.<\/p>\n

Newhook scored the winning goal Sunday night, slightly more than 11 minutes into the third period, propelling the Canadiens to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Lightning in the seventh and deciding game at Benchmark International Arena.<\/p>\n

Although Newhook won a Stanley Cup with Colorado, we dare say this would be considered the biggest goal of his career.<\/p>\n

\"MontrealMontreal Canadiens teammates celebrate their 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Dirk Shadd \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

If we didn\u2019t see it, we wouldn\u2019t believe it (Part I): This arguably will be remembered as the greatest seven-game series in NHL playoff history. Not only were both teams tied with 106 points, every game was decided by one goal. Four of the games went to overtime. It\u2019s amazing this one didn\u2019t as well. The Canadiens won three of their games on the road.<\/p>\n

One door closes as another opens: Tampa Bay won successive Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and \u201921 \u2014\u00a0the latter against the Canadiens during the COVID-19 season \u2014\u00a0and reached the final in \u201922. But the Lightning now has been eliminated in the first round for a fourth consecutive season. As for the Canadiens, most people would agree the best is yet to come.<\/p>\n

O Canada: After both Ottawa and Edmonton were eliminated in the opening round, the Canadiens are the last remaining team north of the border. No Canadian club has won the title since Montreal in 1993.<\/p>\n

\"TampaTampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) and Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson (8) collide during the first period in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Dirk Shadd \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

Our random thought of the night: The Canadiens are now playing with house money from this juncture. They were slight underdogs against Tampa Bay and won\u2019t be favoured in the next round, against Buffalo. That best-of-seven series begins Wednesday on the road. Did we mention the Canadiens are the NHL\u2019s youngest team?<\/p>\n

In case you were wondering: Montreal and the Sabres split their four-game season series. Both teams won once on the road. The Canadiens\u2019 two victories were by identical 4-2 scores. They also lost by that same score as well as 5-3. In other words, both teams scored 13 goals. The teams haven\u2019t faced each other since Jan. 31, after they met three times in 17 days.<\/p>\n

\"TampaTampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) attempts to knock the loose puck as Montreal Canadiens centre Alex Newhook (15) is able to slip the puck past Vasilevskiy for the go-ahead third-period goal in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Dirk Shadd \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

Sieve of the night: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy looked like a Vezina Trophy finalist Friday night, recording a shutout in his team\u2019s 1-0 victory. But 48 hours later? Not so much. He allowed goals on the fourth and eighth shots he faced. His save percentage was .778. Newhook\u2019s goal, batted out of mid-air and scored from a ridiculous angle, deflected off Vasilevskiy.<\/p>\n

The un-sieve: There\u2019s nothing more that can be said about Jakub Dobes<\/a>. The rookie Canadiens netminder has ice water running through his veins and appears impervious to pressure. He stopped 28 shots, including 11 in the second period, and held the Lightning without a goal over the final 26:33. His save percentage was .966.<\/p>\n

\"MontrealMontreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) looks at the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) and Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle (21) look on after a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh during the second period in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Dirk Shadd \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

If we didn\u2019t see it, we wouldn\u2019t believe it (Part II): The Canadiens failed to register a shot in the second period. After Nick Suzuki opened the scoring, the visitors went more than 26 minutes without testing Vasilevskiy. The Canadiens established an NHL playoff record for the fewest shots on goal \u2014\u00a0nine \u2014\u00a0while winning. Further proof that shots are overrated.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also forgiven: It was Suzuki\u2019s first goal of the series.<\/p>\n

\"MontrealMontreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki (14) celebrates his goal on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy during Game 7 in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Luis Santana \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

News you need (Part I): Dobes becomes the fifth rookie goalie in Canadiens history to win a seventh game, joining Carey Price, Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden<\/a> and Jacques Plante. Impressive company.<\/p>\n

News you need (Part II): This marked the 202nd time in league history a series has gone to a seventh game. Heading into it, the team scoring first won 75.1 per cent of the time. Those games were won by the home team 58.7 per cent of the time.<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t all good news: After going 3-for-5 on the power play in the opening game of this series, the Canadiens finished the round going 2-for-22.<\/p>\n

\"TampaTampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) pushes Montreal Canadiens defenceman Noah Dobson (53) during the third period in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May, 3, 2026 in Tampa. Dirk Shadd \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a game of inches: Juraj Slafkovsky, who hasn\u2019t scored since he had a three-goal game to open the series<\/a>, hit the post in the first period and the crossbar in the second. Late in regulation time, with Vasilevskiy pulled for an extra attacker, Slafkovsky only had to beat forward Brandon Hagel. Somehow, he couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Great moments in officiating: Give referees Wes McCauley and Chris Rooney credit for allowing the players to decide the outcome. Nonetheless, in the second period, Lane Hutson took an Anthony Cirelli stick to the face. In Gary Bettman\u2019s NHL, this wasn\u2019t worthy of a penalty.<\/p>\n

\"TampaTampa Bay Lightning centre Dominic James (17) falls to the ice after colliding with Montreal Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson (48) during the third period in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Dirk Shadd \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

Another superstition bites the dust: Vasilevskiy, after producing a shutout at the Bell Centre on Friday, wore his road mask to a home game.<\/p>\n

Quick stats: Suzuki, held without a shot the last two games, had three of the Canadiens\u2019 nine. The others came from Cole Caufield, Newhook, Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle, Alexandre Carrier and Alexandre Texier. Caufield uncharacteristically had five hits. Suzuki had three hits and blocked three shots. Jake Evans had four hits, as did Kirby Dach, Noah Dobson \u2014\u00a0in his return from injury \u2014\u00a0and Jayden Struble. The latter played only 5:06. Brendan Gallagher played 6:48. Mike Matheson played 25:22. The Canadiens won 53.3 per cent of their faceoffs and outhit the Lightning 43-30.<\/p>\n

\"MontrealMontreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis and Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper talk during the handshake line after Game 7 of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Luis Santana \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

They said it: \u201cI\u2019m happy for our players and our fans who have supported us,\u201d head coach Martin St. Louis said in Tampa. \u201cIt\u2019s a great day for the Canadiens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big moment,\u201d Newhook said. \u201cYoung group. Young team. To rise to the occasion in a big game like this shows what we\u2019re capable of doing. We\u2019re a hard team to beat.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of what you dream of when you\u2019re younger,\u201d he said of his goal. \u201cBig moments in Game 7.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TampaTampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) congratulates Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) after the Canadiens defeated the Lightning 2-1 in Game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tampa. Dirk Shadd \/ Tampa Bay Times<\/p>\n

\u201cMany times in the season the guys bailed me out and helped me out,\u201d Dobes said. \u201cI tried to do the same. Sometimes they don\u2019t play good. Sometimes I don\u2019t play good. They always have my back. I always have theirs. That\u2019s our mentality. This wasn\u2019t anything special. I was just trying to keep the guys in it. I was waiting for them to get going. That\u2019s exactly what happened. I\u2019m excited for the second round.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels amazing,\u201d Suzuki said. \u201cWe had a lot of dark days \u2026 going into the rebuild. This moment definitely makes up for a lot of it. We just want to keep this journey going. We have a super special group. It\u2019s a pleasure to play with these guys. We were super confident coming into the playoffs and felt we could go on a deep run even though we don\u2019t have a ton of experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\tEditor\u2019s Pick\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alex Newhook, all is forgiven. Newhook, the speedy Canadiens centre, has often said he\u2019s capable of being a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":646505,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194292],"tags":[49,48,2338],"class_list":["post-646504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-montreal","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-montreal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646504"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646504\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/646505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}