{"id":811,"date":"2026-05-19T13:36:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T13:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=811"},"modified":"2026-05-19T13:36:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T13:36:36","slug":"the-future-has-arrived-for-the-canadiens-who-won-two-game-7s-and-advanced-to-east-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=811","title":{"rendered":"The future has arrived for the Canadiens, who won two Game 7s and advanced to East finals"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was no different than any Montreal hockey fan, increasingly impatient over talk of the team\u2019s promising potential.<\/p>\n

Read more Jazz Age style: Chisholm borrows Stanton\u2019s baggy pants, Caballero\u2019s bat to spark turnaround<\/a><\/p>\n

Turns out, the future has arrived perhaps a little ahead of schedule, and propelled by forward Alex Newhook\u2019s knack for scoring Game 7 playoff series-clinching goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot,\u201d Matheson said after Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference finals courtesy of Newhook\u2019s goal 11:22 into overtime of a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a long time it\u2019s been talking about the rebuild and rebuild. I think as a group we\u2019re a little tired of that whole kind of viewpoint, as if we have to keep being patient and wait, and our time will come,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I feel it\u2019s exciting for us and motivating for us to see that we\u2019re at this stage already.\u201d<\/p>\n

The win was Montreal\u2019s second in a Game 7 this postseason, with both coming on the road and both decided by Newhook. The second-line forward also scored the tie-breaking goal 11:07 into the third period in Game 7 of Montreal\u2019s 2-1 first-round series-clinching win over Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

Next up are the well-rested Hurricanes in a series that opens at Carolina on Thursday night. The Hurricanes have swept each of their first two rounds, and been off since a 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia on May 9.<\/p>\n

The Canadiens reached the NHL\u2019s semifinal round for the first time since the 2021 COVID-altered playoffs, in which a veteran-laden Montreal team \u2014 including captain Shea Weber and goalie Carey Price \u2014 beat Vegas before losing to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final in five games.<\/p>\n

Though there are a few holdovers, such as captain Nick Suzuki and linemate Cole Caufield, both now in their mid-20s, this group has essentially been rebuilt from scratch in three-plus seasons under general manager Kent Hughes and coach Martin St. Louis.<\/p>\n

Among the newcomers are draft picks such as defenseman Lane Hutson, forwards Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, and goalie Jakub Dobes. Then there\u2019s the key pieces Hughes acquired through trades, including Newhook, Matheson, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Phillip Danault, who is back for a second stint.<\/p>\n

Read more Billie Jean King, 82, earns a college degree 65 years after starting at Cal State LA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe built it since I\u2019ve been here, and we built it all season long,\u201d said Newhook, who won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Colorado, and now is in his second season in Montreal. \u201cWe\u2019re a confident group. We knew what we were capable of all year. I think we believe that we can keep going and bring this thing all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montreal is in the playoffs for just the fourth time in nine years. And the team\u2019s upward trajectory is apparent a year after being knocked out in the first round by Washington, and following a season in which Montreal\u2019s 48 wins and 106 points were the most since 2014-15.<\/p>\n

The Canadiens haven\u2019t lost consecutive games since mid-March, and improved their playoff record to 6-0 following a loss.<\/p>\n

Dobes, a rookie, has carried the load in goal by starting every playoff game and after going 29-10-4 this season. In two Game 7s, he\u2019s allowed a combined three goals on 68 shots, including a 37-save outing against Buffalo.<\/p>\n

And he and the Canadiens bounced back from an 8-3 loss in Game 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re used to it,\u201d Dobes said of performing in the clutch. \u201cThe Tampa series made us a way better team than before the playoffs. We know how to bounce back. We know what\u2019s the feeling like. So, yeah, it\u2019s just keep getting experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montreal entered the playoffs with 10 players having previously appeared in a Game 7. The Canadiens now count 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to just use the age as a crutch,\u201d said St. Louis, who improved to 2-0 in Game 7s as a coach to go along with 6-2 during his playing days.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo years ago, we know that we lacked experience. That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t advance and mature,\u201d he said. \u201cLast year\u2019s experience in the playoffs, what we\u2019re going through right now, you can\u2019t buy that. It\u2019s amazing. I\u2019m so happy for the players to live that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Israeli forces intercept another boat with activists seeking to challenge the blockage of Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NHL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/stanley-cup and https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nhl<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BUFFALO, N.Y. 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