BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was no different than any Montreal hockey fan, increasingly impatient over talk of the team鈥檚 promising potential.
Turns out, the future has arrived perhaps a little ahead of schedule, and propelled by forward Alex Newhook鈥檚 knack for scoring Game 7 playoff series-clinching goals.
鈥淚t means a lot,鈥� Matheson said after Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference finals courtesy of Newhook鈥檚 goal 11:22 into overtime on Monday night.
鈥淔or a long time it鈥檚 been talking about the rebuild and rebuild. I think as a group we鈥檙e a little tired of that whole kind of viewpoint, as if we have to keep being patient and wait, and our time will come,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I feel it鈥檚 exciting for us and motivating for us to see that we鈥檙e at this stage already.鈥�
The win was Montreal鈥檚 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 win over Tampa Bay.
Next up are the 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.
The Canadiens reached the NHL’s semifinal round for the first time since the 2021 COVID-altered playoffs, in which a veteran-laden Montreal team 鈥� including captain Shea Weber and goalie Carey Price 鈥� beat Vegas before losing to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final in five games.
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.
Among the newcomers are draft picks such as defenseman Lane Hutson, forwards Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, and . Then there鈥檚 the key pieces Hughes acquired through trades, including Newhook, Matheson, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Phillip Danault, who is back for a second stint.
鈥淲e built it since I鈥檝e been here, and we built it all season long,鈥� said Newhook, who won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Colorado, and now is in his second season in Montreal. 鈥淲e鈥檙e 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.鈥�
Montreal is in the playoffs for just the fourth time in nine years. And the team鈥檚 upward trajectory is apparent a year after being knocked out in the first round by Washington, and following a season in which Montreal鈥檚 48 wins and 106 points were the most since 2014-15.
The Canadiens haven鈥檛 lost consecutive games since mid-March, and improved their playoff record to 6-0 following a loss.
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鈥檚 allowed a combined three goals on 68 shots, including a 37-save outing against Buffalo.
And he and the Canadiens bounced back from an 8-3 loss in Game 6.
鈥淲e’re used to it,鈥� Dobes said of performing in the clutch. 鈥淭he Tampa series made us a way better team than before the playoffs. We know how to bounce back. We know what鈥檚 the feeling like. So, yeah, it鈥檚 just keep getting experience.鈥�
Montreal entered the playoffs with 10 players having previously appeared in a Game 7. The Canadiens now count 20.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to just use the age as a crutch,鈥� said St. Louis, who improved to 2-0 in Game 7s as a coach to go along with 6-2 during his playing days.
鈥淭wo years ago, we know that we lacked experience. That doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 advance and mature,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ast year鈥檚 experience in the playoffs, what we鈥檙e going through right now, you can鈥檛 buy that. It鈥檚 amazing. I鈥檓 so happy for the players to live that.鈥�
___
AP NHL: and
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
