The Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Buffalo Sabres and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final with a 3-2 overtime win in Monday's Game 7.
Alex Newhook netted the dramatic, series-deciding goal. He also scored the game-winner in Montreal's Game 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
The Canadiens will face the Carolina Hurricanes with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line. Game 1 will be played Thursday in Carolina. Montreal last reached the conference final in 2021, eventually falling to the Lightning in the championship series.
"A lot of emotions for sure," Newhook told Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas postgame. "It's a group effort all series long. We had a lot of guys step up at different moments. We found a way tonight, and we're moving forward. It's exciting."
The Canadiens held a 2-0 lead after the first period with goals from Phillip Danault and Zack Bolduc. However, Buffalo battled back, evening the contest in the third on captain Rasmus Dahlin's tally.
Montreal's Jakub Dobes made 37 saves in the win. He rebounded after allowing six goals and getting pulled in Game 6.
"We learned our lesson, Game 1 against (the Sabres), we didn't show up Game 1," Dobes told Bukauskas. "So our whole focus is to enjoy tonight and come hungry for Game 1, because (the Hurricanes) are a good team."
The Habs are the youngest team to advance to the conference final since the 1993 Canadiens.
