Alex Newhook Broke the Ice and Montreal Finally Remembers How to Win in May

The Montreal Canadiens are back in the playoffs conversation, and it only took five years to get here. Alex Newhook snapped a third-period stalemate with the game-winner, lifting the Habs to a 2-1 Game 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. Nick Suzuki also lit the lamp for Montreal, but here's the wild part: the Canadiens were absolutely dominated on the scoreboard, getting outshot 29-9 and outplayed for most of the night. Yet they still found a way to walk out of Tampa with the series win and their first playoff series victory since 2021.

Montreal Made It Ugly and Nobody Cares

Look, the Canadiens weren't winning any style points in this one. They got significantly outshot and looked outmatched for stretches, but Game 7 hockey isn't about aesthetics. It's about who scores last and who goes home. Montreal answered the bell when it mattered most, and that's all that counts in a winner-take-all playoff game. Newhook's third-period goal was the dagger, a reminder that even when you're getting pushed around, you stay in the fight until the final buzzer.

Five Years Between Playoff Wins Is a Long Time

This isn't just a series win for the Habs. This is their first playoff series victory since 2021, a drought that's been painful for a franchise with that kind of history. Montreal finally broke through, and now they move forward in the playoffs knowing they can compete when the pressure is at its peak. Suzuki's goal gave them crucial depth scoring when they needed it most, and even in a game where they were outshot 29-9, they found a way to make it count.

The Canadiens head into their next challenge with momentum and proof that playoff hockey doesn't always reward the team that controls possession. Sometimes it rewards the team that finishes its chances, and Montreal just delivered the ultimate lesson in that department.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.