Canadiens win series in Game 7 | TSN Postgame Hot Zone

All right, thank you.There's Jamie McLennan, Frankie Corrado, and the insider Darren Draeger.I'm not sure this is the ideal game plan for Game 7.Get badly outshot.Find a way to survive.But it's working pretty well for the Montreal Canadiens.

They do it against Tampa.They get more than nine shots, this time against Buffalo.How did they find a way yet again?

Well, they got two goals in the bank early in the game, and they sat back for a little bit.The Buffalo Sabres out -chanced them, out -shot them, out -shot attempted them.But ultimately, the Montreal Canadiens are able to hang on because the Buffalo Sabres live and die by what they have done in saying, go for it.Be in attack mode all the time, and Rasmus Dalien trying to do a little too much at the blue line ultimately cost them.And for the Montreal Canadiens, you're thinking, man, that was a game where you're in the driver's seat.got away from you and Montreal was the better team throughout the course of this series, but not necessarily the better team in game six and seven, which ultimately were elimination games.

But here they are a team that has exceeded expectations, essentially from the start of the season, again, exceeding expectations in the playoffs.

Resilient group.They got the goaltending, they got the saves and the goals from depth players and a guy like Newhook who had an unbelievable series.But if you look at it, I think this Montreal team, they feel like they're They're destined.It doesn't matter what any team throws at them.They just feel pretty good about their game.Now Buffalo they might feel like they deserve a little bit better.

fate because I thought they were terrific tonight.

You know, the coaching staff has to get credit from both sides.But Mardi Saint -Louis and the Montreal Canadiens have done an excellent job of managing the emotion, the preparation work that goes into a game seven.I mean, how these teams win on the road in the fashion they do.Keep in mind, the Canadians aren't that far removed from getting walloped in game six on home ice after having a 3 -1 lead.I mean, to be as mentally tough as they were.Yes, we saw some primary scoring from Alex Newhook matters most.

But as you said, noodles, you've got bull Duke, you've got to know you've got secondary scoring that drove the ball.in this one.

But you're so right about the resilience.Usually it's the veteran teams that find a way after they lose a game six at home to find a way in a game seven for a team that's so young and just having the window open to be able to do this is truly remarkable.Before we get more into how they accomplished this, let's look at the nuts and bolts of the game winning goal.First of all, Buffalo, after owning much of the second half of the game, look a little frazzled, you know, and does that end up leading to the goal?

Absolutely.There's missed assignments all over the ice, but it's almost like Lindy Ralph, the head coach, said going into overtime, just go for it, guys, like leave it all out there.And you can see Rasmus Dahlien is going to make a play at the blue line.It's a bit of a high risk play, but he's a high risk player.Tate Thompson wants to flick it in.He doesn't get anything on it and then he's going to pinch over.

Now you've got a three on two situation.This is a rolling puck.And there's a slight screen on UPL, but the puck actually drops and goes underneath the glove and just inside the post for the game -winning goal.It's not a great goal, but there's a comedy of errors that start at the far blue line off of a draw where you win in the offensive zone.So the Buffalo Sabres have nobody to blame other than themselves.

Do you have to make that save?

I think you do.I'm sorry, but, you know, it's a play that drops But you're finding that puck, it's from far enough out.It's not a 120 mile an hour slap shot.You need to make that save if you're UPL.

We were picking who we thought would score.We all should have picked Newhook.I mean, when you watch him this series, right?

Yeah, and I mean, through the postseason to this point, I mean, he's had a tremendous run for the Montreal Canadiens.Obviously, no goal bigger than the one that he scored to clinch Game 7 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.But the story of Alex Newhook is the fact that, you know, he has, he's gotten healthy over time here.That was the issue.Now we're seeing some saves here from Jakub Dolbus.But I mean, if you're making a case for the playoff MVP for the Montreal Canadiens, it's either the guy we just saw there in net or it's Alex Newhook.

Six goals in this series.But again, you talk to management and they say, well, What's different about his approach to the game is that he can utilize his speed.And based on that early season ankle injury, he wasn't able to do that.They will tell you that he didn't come around.He wasn't feeling comfortable.He didn't have that pop until late in the first round.

And maybe he's taking goalies and defense a little bit by surprise with the shot.He's gotten lucky a few times to this point of the postseason as well.But he does have a bit of an elusive shot.

And the fact that he's able to get his foot speed into a place where he can get his shot off and maybe disguise it a little bit off the rush.You see the game -winning goal there.It's a little bit of a... of a fluttering puck that's able to beat Lucan.And so for Alex Newak, such an important player because we've talked about it a lot.You haven't gotten a ton at five on five, basically nothing from Suzuki, Slavkovsky, Caulfield, Demidov.That's your next tier of players as far as your importance goes.

And he was really important so far.

Drakes gave us a little preview.We're going to talk more about Dobish.But first, let's hear from the Habs.

I didn't see it go away and I just saw the red light and guys celebrating.It's great.It's an unbelievable feeling.I wish you guys could feel how it's a relief and it's awesome.We had that.This feels better than the Tampa series for sure because it's an OT.

Just proud of the guys.We will keep believing.They played really well.They played a good game.Yeah, happy.

How can you describe your feelings over the last 48 hours?Jakub?

I actually felt really good last game.I kept the same similar things, a couple of tweaks, but I felt pretty good the last game.Emotionally, yeah, for sure I wanted to be better, but I think me getting pulled at home was kind of a wake -up call, and I took it personal.We won today, so I'm really happy.Everyone was doing their own thing.It's hard like Everyone is so everyone knows what's going on.

So like you don't want to you don't want to say too much I know Arbor was saying some things but like everyone was pretty much just focus on Your our job and we knew we had it and yeah, we are moving on and I'm really happy I mean, yeah, I was just doing my job, you know, their fans like to change my name.So I like that, too.Thank you.Thanks for that.Yeah.Actually, that was giving me fire because I like that.

I like when when I'm You are the villain.You are in this situation.So yeah, I knew we are up.I knew we need to keep going.I need to keep going, keeping it tight.And yeah, fortunate it was 2 -1.

They scored in the third.But still, 2 -1 is better than going 2 -2 in the third.So just try to play the game and make sure they don't get the lead or they don't tie it up.And yeah.

What's going through your head to maintain closurea Game 7 overtime situation?

Well, it's like, I just tried to tell myself that you just gotta do everything, you gotta do everything you have, everything that's left in the tank, it's gotta go all out and you gotta keep telling yourself, no, they won't go, the puck won't go in, they're not going to score, trick your brain and be there for the guys.I love the team and everyone so much, so I will do anything, however long it takes to get the W, so I'm very happy.

You guys have a goalie?

Goalies are always unique, guys.I've never heard a goalie say, trick your brain before, but it works.This guy's become a great interview, and he's become just a remarkable story.Among the things he said there, a rookie goalie going through this for the first run after getting yanked in game six, That would be tough for a lot of guys to bounce back from.He said, I took it personal, and that's what I did.the reason he played the way he did on this night.

What has impressed you most?Not just tonight, but through this run.

His poise.And I love his comments.Those are fresh and they're honest.And when you look at a guy like Jacob Dobish and what he's been able to accomplish here in the playoffs, let's not forget, coming into the playoffs, everybody thought, OK, he's going to start, but it's a short leash because you've got Jake Fowler sitting there, the heir apparent.Well, Dobish has been fantastic, and especially when the chips are down.And we weren't sure how he was going to react.

coming off of, we'll say, a half of a game in game five subpar.And then in game six, he gets lifted.But he's, like you said, he took it personally.And goaltenders sometimes struggle between the ears when you feel the pressure.You're on the road.You give up a tying goal late in the third period.

How is this going to unfold?Well, if anything, he got stronger and made big saves at the right time.And, you know, it doesn't mirror the Tampa Bay game seven win where I thought he just out -dueled Vasilevsky, but he was terrific again tonight when needed to be.

We continue to gather post -game reaction.Lots more from Dregs and Frankie and Jamie in the second.First, let's hear from Josh Anderson.

Yeah, it was a great play by Jakey, dishing it over to Newey and good net drive there.And I think he just shot it through traffic, which was a good shot.I think just getting to our identity quick, allowing us to forecheck and getting on pucks first and creating offense that way.You know, we had a good shift to start things over there.You know, Phil with a great goal there.So I think that gave us some juice to get going and feeling good into that game.

And, you know, we continue to play well throughout that period.And like I said, in the second, we kind of came out a little flat.

You look refreshed to start the overtime.You guys had it going.

Yeah, I mean, we all felt good in here.We talked about it, you know, in the intermission there, leaving it all on the line.You know, we've been here before, so...Yeah, I thought everybody contributed tonight.Obviously Doves made some huge saves.You know, it was nice to play with the puck too and over time, which created a little bit of offence and had some scoring opportunities there.

And, you know, it was nice to see that one going from Newly.Yeah, yeah.Yeah.You know, he's been great this whole playoffs, honestly.We have the most confidence in him back there.He's made some huge saves to keep us in games all season long.

in both series so you just knew he was going to have a big night tonight and you know sit on his head tonight.Yeah definitely you know we've said it for a long time that you knew something was brewing over here in the last couple years and how special this group is and how tight you know we've been working hard to to build what we got going on right now and you know sometimes you got to go through those growing pains to to be successful and you know Um, you know, it's just nice to do this together and, you know, have an opportunity here to move on to the next round.Um, like you said, there's four teams left now, so it's, uh, it's pretty exciting and, um, you know, we're not done yet.

You guys have to turn the page pretty quick.

Yeah.

Just what challenges, Carol, they haven't played in two weeks.What are they going to offer you?

Yeah, they're a really good team.They're fast.They're quick.They're going to be kind of like Buffalo.Um, they like to move the puck.They like rush games.

Um, you know, I'm sure we're going to watch, um, some video in the next 24 hours and move on.So yeah, so enjoy this for tonight and then move on tomorrow.I mean, I think just his work ethic.I mean, he's got a motor on him.He never stops working.He's great on the forecheck.

He's got some great skill.He's quick.He does it all out there.So it was nice for him to get rewarded and he's had a tremendous play out too.

Yeah, I mean, you practice that shot all year.After every morning skate, I'm working on that shot pretty much in that spot too.So, no, it was an amazing feeling.I mean, Susie did an amazing pass there, but now it feels amazing.

Just what led you to that?

Sorry?

What led you to that area?

I don't know.I've been, I mean, since I played junior, I was there on the power play and I feel really comfortable there to shoot some pucks.I think I'd like to give a lot of credit to Susan.I think it was a no -look pass to me, so it was an early pass from him.And yeah, it was a nice play.

There's been a long rebuild here.What does it mean to this group to get past that?

Yeah.No, it's special.I mean, I just got here.It's my first year.But I mean, I followed Montreal Canadiens for a long, long time.And it's amazing.

I think as a group, we always believe in ourselves.To now put ourself in that spot.We're all super excited and we're ready to go Yeah, I mean yeah approve how much character he has how much how much he wants to win and He's been our best player since the beginning of the playoff.So we had all our confidence in him and We're not surprised the way he bounced forward like you said No, it feels amazing.I mean, you work all year for that moment, for game seven in overtime, and you want to find a way to get that goal and make that difference.And I think you did an amazing shot there.

Yeah, I mean, he's been good for us all year.Even in a playoff, he's one of our best players, he's skating well, he wants to make the difference and you can tell.

What was it like in here between the third period and overtime?

Did anybody speak up?What was the mood, the vibe?I think the mood was pretty confident.We all know what we had to do to get the job done and I think as a group we're confident.We just make the difference tonight.Yeah, we're excited.

I mean, it's a different challenge for us, and we're going to be ready.I mean, we haven't talked about them yet, but we're going to enjoy that win tonight, and we'll make sure to be ready tomorrow.

Thank you very much.

biggest chapters in this story so far is that the heroes have come from everywhere.

It's a big reason why the Montreal Canadiens are heading to the Eastern Conference Final.And I think you have to give Kent Hughes a little bit of credit here because these are guys that he has gone out and acquired for this team.Phil Deneau via trade Alex Newhoek in the offseason.Zach Bolduc for Logan Mayhew.And here they are all contributing.And one of those players who's been around through the dark days of the rebuild Josh Anderson gets in on the forecheck.

And that allows this goal to happen.Phil Deneau does a nice job getting himself parked in front of the net, directing it with his skate, not kicking it with his skate.And then this is an unbelievable pass from Nick Suzuki on the power play.And Zach Balduc has been in and out of it a little bit this season.He got off to an unbelievable start.He went incredibly quiet at one point and he started to find his game in the later portion of the season and now contributing in the playoffs.

But that's why you get Zach Balduc to take that shot right there.And of course, we know about Alex Newhook scoring the winner.So the guys that Kent Hughes has brought in, it's paying off.

I mean, success stories are often written by the unsung heroes, right?And that's what we're seeing for the Montreal Canadiens.But, you know, if we begin to forecast and look ahead to the Eastern Conference final, often you'll see top lines nullify each other in that matchup game.While the Carolina Hurricanes have gotten through two rounds undefeated, primarily off the back of Stankov and Jackson, Blake and Taylor Hall.And their top guys have had a hard time hitting the score.So maybe we shouldn't be surprised at the depth scoring in Montreal.

We'll have a few couple days to preview this, but do they have a chance, Montreal?

And there's no guarantee that Carolina is just going to show up after 12 days and just keep the engine going.It might take a game or two or a game and a half to shake the rust off.And Freddie Anderson, who was playing so well for Carolina, there's no guarantee that he just continues rolling and playing to the top of his game.Montreal with a lot of momentum.Yes, they might be a little tired having played 14 games here and going to two game sevens.But ultimately, Carolina, there might be some rust on their game.

And keep in mind, contrasting styles here.That's the other thing.Carolina is going to try and check them into the ground.Montreal might skate them into the ground.

You have to say that Montreal has a chance because the thing that has held Carolina back in the past is when teams are really rough with them.Well, Montreal is not overly rough, but teams that can score a lot.And that's what the Montreal Canadiens can do.they can score with the best of them.So if Montreal is going to be able to do that, and if Freddie Anderson doesn't have his best stuff, do the Carolina Hurricanes just have that extra gear of offense?That is something that has eluded them in the past.

Well, in skeletons for Carolina, this is the round that has been their nemesis for the last few years.But again, this is the greatest rest versus rust test ever.Ever, right?For a team to go 2 -7 game series and the other team to have gone 4 -0 twice and have 12 days off.

Guys could have gone and played some games at the Men's Worlds and come back and still had enough time to practice.

Could have gone to Turks for 10 days and come back and been ready for this series.What do we say about the Sabres here?It's a big step forward this season to end the 15 -year playoff drought, but that's still a heartbreaking way to end it, Drakes.

It is, but you do have to look at the bigger picture of the Buffalo Sabres this year.right?And Kevin Adams loses his job as general manager.And remarkably, it seemed like that was the wake -up call that the dressing room raided, where maybe they put more mirrors in that dressing room and the players took a hard look at themselves individually.But, you know, there'll be some off -season challenges.You know, we talked coming into the game about Alex Tuck.

having to find a way to be a difference maker for Buffalo in this game seven.I wouldn't say that he played poorly in this game, but again, he wasn't able to contribute.And he goes over in the series.He's a pending unrestricted free agent and he'll be 10 plus million dollars.So as you know, I'm okay.Kalining willing to, is he going to invest in Alex Tuck to keep him in Buffalo or did they let him go to market?

Let's hear from the Sabres head coach, Lindy.

on the goal, Malenstein, no goal.Did they give you an explanation on that?

No, just, you know, I thought it was a little bit of a quick whistle and because you can always go back and look at those and but didn't really get an explanation on it.

With the way this series went back and forth, I mean, did you and your staff anticipate overtime and this kind of ending and how do you as a coach prepare for a sudden death and possibly season ending overtime?

Well, I think we said at the start of this series, it was going to be two really good teams playing.We had some momentum swings.You get to overtime, we had a couple of really good chances.We had the chances in our hands.Those are the opportunities that you hope you get.We just didn't finish.

We had a couple of great opportunities, even in the third, the Hellenius toe -slash -glove save.that that almost went you know I think the the ice was fairly tilted we had a lot of opportunities to to make a difference in the game.

Lindy when you're going into that overtime the way the game and it bent uphill and now you finally had a lot of momentum going how much did you think to yourself you're looking in that room somebody's gonna be a hero for this team?

I thought it was just part of our journey, you know, a tough start where, you know, we let one go in off a skate, a penalty that we almost had killed.We got just a little bit aggressive and left net front.But these guys never quit all year.Just another indication, you know, you battle hard.We stayed with the game.We get one to make it 2 -1, and we talked about playing the game the right way and made a great playoff, a face -off, and Darlene got us tied.

I really felt that the game was right there for us.

On a personal level, what are the initial emotions of the season ending that way tonight?

You know, it hurts.I told the team it hurts.That pain will go away, but I won't let this one game define the season we had.I told the players how proud I was of them.The battle that we took into game six in Montreal and then came back here and gave ourselves every chance to win.

So this one game, Doesn't define our season for us indeed the way Rasmus played in the playoffs in these last couple in particular almost look like at times he wasto will you to victory.Can you speak to just what he did these last couple of games and how dynamic he was at times?

Yeah, I mean, he was on his toes.He wanted to be a difference every opportunity he could be.Played one heck of a, I mean, you look at our top couple of guys in game six, they played a heck of a game to give us the win.Again, tonight, Dahls.Tied the game for us.I thought Tomer in overtime had the great look that could have won us the game, but it didn't go.

Lindy obviously played well enough to win tonight, as you talked about, but to drop five of seven at home in these playoffs, I mean, how much of that will you chew on in the offseason?

Yeah, that hurts.You know, it was strange in the East, the disparity with the home and road.Besides the start of the game, I thought this was probably one of our better games where we really tilted the ice and had the game in our favor.But again, didn't find a way to win it.Our fans have been so great.You go back to the end of the year, the momentum they helped us with, the energy in this building.

It would have been nice to close this one out here.Just a gift for how good they've been.Didn't quite get that done.

Of all the teams you've coached, what makes this one unique?What are you going to remember most about this specific group?

Just the resiliency, that you never quit, all the challenges we faced, some personal challenges with players, some injuries, the stress.the year, and just to keep coming back.And once we hit the center, when we get a little bit healthy, just to keep coming back and winning games.Even, you know, you can look at the Boston game, game one, you know, looking like we may get beaten game one, and just the effort in the last 10 minutes to win that hockey game.This was a team that, they never quit.I probably had every excuse to at times, but they always found a reason to win.

to win the division and then get here.We always talk about windows opening and it looks like Buffalo's has but there's no guarantee of that.Just because you went on the run this year doesn't mean you're going to do it next year.What has to happen for them to be back?

They have to realize that it's a mentality like they've set a new standard in Buffalo.Gone are the days of them losing and playing garbage time hockey and not in the mix for a playoff spot.But that's something that they have to recognize from within and make it a point that hey everyone who's coming back next year and anyone Everyone who is joining this group.This is the new standard that they have set.They've all the young pieces franchise defenseman skilled young forwards some promising goaltenders even though there's some shaky performances in this series.It's all about the mentality that they're building in that dressing room.

Yeah.And they've got flexibility.But the framework like you just mentioned is there.I mean they've got goaltending.They've got depth in the organization as well.They've got mobile D. You've got good young skilled fast forwards.

Yes you've got decisions to be made but you are OK.Let's not forget this will be his first offseason.This will be his first attempt here to make his team better because he comes in and was parachuted in and inherited a lot of the situation.So I think there's.real good days ahead in Buffalo.get to that next level framework of a fantastic team.

And doesn't it serve notice to everybody else in the division, maybe across the Eastern Conference, how good Buffalo is, how good Montreal is.The Ottawa Senators are on the uptick.So if you're Toronto or a team on the outside looking in, you're looking at Buffalo and going...We've got work to do.Right.

I mean, look at the Habs could lose in Forta Carolina and the season would still be a smashing success.But knowing this team, I doubt that's going to happen the way they've been so resilient.Just a remarkable story.And they become the youngest NHL team to make the conference finals since The Montreal Canadiens in 1993.Read into that what you may.We'll have lots more.

Lindy's still talking, so we'll get more Habs reaction from the podium on SportsCenter.