{"id":257329,"date":"2026-05-04T04:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T04:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/257329\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T04:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T04:51:11","slug":"montreal-canadiens-defeat-tampa-bay-lightning-in-game-7-after-setting-playoff-record-for-fewest-shots-on-goal-in-a-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/257329\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens defeat Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 after setting playoff record for fewest shots on goal in a win"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Montreal Canadiens<\/a> upset the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> in Game 7 and are headed to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a historically bad offensive performance. Folks, this is why we love the NHL postseason: because the best team always wins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Canadiens fired just 9 shots on goal in their 2-1 victory, setting a Stanley Cup playoffs record<\/a> for the fewest shots in a win.<\/p>\n

\"ShotsScreenshot: NHL.com box score<\/a><\/p>\n

Even worse, the Canadiens fired no shots on goal in the second period entirely, which is the first time in franchise history (since shots were first tracked in 1959-60) they\u2019ve accomplished that lowly feat. Thanks to some brilliant stat-keeping <\/a>, we also know that the Canadiens had 0 slot shots, 0 turnover chances, 0 odd-man rushes, and, as you might have guessed, 0 goals during that 20 minutes of play.<\/p>\n

Canadiens register 0 shots on goal in a period for the first time in franchise postseason history, per @NHLPR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

According to Josh Dubow<\/a>, the last time a team had 0 shots on goal in a period during the postseason was the Penguins, who had 0 in Game 1 of 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators<\/a>. And as you might have predicted, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup that year \u2014 their second in a row.<\/p>\n

Okay, last fact. Per Jessica Brand<\/a>, no prior team this century has won a game, regular season or postseason, with single-digit shots on goal. The Canadiens are literally the first to do it in the 2000s.<\/p>\n

Anywho, Alex Newhook<\/a> ultimately scored the series-winning goal with 8:53 remaining in the third period, batting a puck out of mid-air from no angle off Andrei Vasilevskiy<\/a> and in. <\/p>\n

Vasilevskiy stopped seven of nine shots, good for a .778 save percentage. On the other side of the ice, Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes<\/a> made 28 saves on 29 shots for the victory.<\/p>\n

What a weird game. <\/p>\n

Congrats to the Habs, I guess.<\/p>\n

Montreal will now play Buffalo in the second round.<\/p>\n

Please no one bring up Jaroslav Halak in the comments. I\u2019m still not over it. Yes, I know it\u2019s been 16 years.<\/p>\n

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