Decisive NHL Game: Buffalo and Montreal to Play Game Seven
On Monday, May 18, Game 7 of the NHL playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens will take place. The Sabres previously evened the series with a dominant 8-3 win in Game 6, where Rasmus Dahlin recorded 5 points.
Main Event
On Monday, May 18, 2026, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, the seventh and decisive game of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens will be played. This matchup, already dubbed one of the most unpredictable and thrilling in modern Stanley Cup history, will conclude with a game where a spot in the conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes is at stake. The teams head into the decisive battle after a dramatic Game 6 in Montreal, which the Sabres won 8-3, coming back after a shocking start where they allowed three unanswered goals.
Details and Statistics
Game 6 of the series, held on May 16 at the Bell Centre in front of nearly 21,000 spectators, epitomized this wild matchup. Montreal started with phenomenal efficiency: forwards Arber Xhekaj, Russian forward Ivan Demidov, and Jake Evans converted their first three shots on goal against Alex Lyon, forcing the Buffalo coaching staff to make an emergency goalie change just 11 minutes in. With a 3-1 lead for the home team and the crowd roaring, it seemed the Canadiens were confidently closing out the series and preparing for the conference final.
However, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's entry onto the ice completely turned the game around. The Sabres not only leveled the playing field but systematically dismantled the opponent's defense, scoring seven unanswered goals. The hero of the game was Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin, who recorded five points (1 goal + 4 assists), tying the franchise playoff record. The Swedish defenseman opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the game with a slick move past Juraj Slafkovsky and then assisted teammates throughout the night.
Game 6 statistics clearly show Buffalo's dominance after the initial collapse: final shot count 36-22 in favor of the visitors, blocked shots 18-9, faceoff wins 34-22. Jack Quinn scored a pair against Jakub Dobeš, while Jason Zucker, Zack Benson, Konsta Helenius, Tage Thompson, and Zach Metsa each added a goal.
Montreal captain Nick Suzuki did not hide his disappointment after the game: "I was shocked. We were up 3-1 in the first period and ended up losing 8-3. It's disappointing. This might have been our worst game." Notably, this is the second consecutive Game 7 for the Canadiens: in the first round, they similarly failed to close out the series at home in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but then won the decisive road game 2-1.
Special attention goes to Montreal Russian forward Ivan Demidov, who scored in his second straight playoff game. He has 7 points (2 goals + 5 assists) in the current Stanley Cup playoffs.
Context and Significance
The Buffalo-Montreal matchup has transcended a typical playoff series. Both teams show paradoxical statistics: home ice in this series has proven more of a curse than an advantage. Montreal has five road wins in these playoffs compared to just two at home; Buffalo shows similar numbers—five road wins and one home win. Over six games, the teams have traded both blowout victories and unexpected collapses, leaving experts and fans guessing the outcome of each specific game.
TSN experts note an interesting pattern: in five of six series games, the team that blocked more shots won. This stat has become a kind of indicator of determination and willingness to sacrifice for results. In Game 6, Buffalo defensemen absorbed 18 shots compared to nine for Montreal, perfectly matching the final score.
For Buffalo, this series holds special significance. The franchise, long outside the NHL elite, made a strong push in the 2025-26 season, losing just two of six games to Boston in the first round. The team's stars—Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin—are in top form, as evidenced by their combined Game 6 stats: two goals and nine points.
Montreal, for its part, relies on young leaders—Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky. However, analysts believe Slafkovsky had his worst playoff game, committing a costly error in the opening seconds and never getting into the game. The plus-minus of the Canadiens' top line in the playoffs is alarming: Slafkovsky (-8), Caufield (-7), and Suzuki (-5).
What's Next / Next Game Preview
The decisive Game 7 will start at 7:30 PM ET (2:30 AM Tuesday CET) at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Live broadcasts will be provided by ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports, and CBC. The winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
NHL.com expert predictions are nearly evenly split, underscoring the series' unpredictability. Some analysts lean toward Montreal due to the team's record after losses: in these playoffs, the Canadiens have won all five games following a defeat. Additionally, Martin St. Louis's team has already proven its ability to win Game 7s on the road, having beaten Tampa in the first round.
On the other hand, momentum is clearly with Buffalo. Lindy Ruff's team not only survived Game 6 but dominated the last four periods with a combined shot count of 56-25. The Sabres' head coach quipped about the home-ice factor: "We're testing whether we can even play here on Monday."
The range of predictions is impressive: from a cautious 2-1 Buffalo win to a 6-5 overtime thriller, which would be a fitting conclusion to a series that has had everything—blowouts, comebacks, surprises, and heroic individual performances. As one NHL.com columnist summed up, "Nothing about this series has made any sense from the start."
— Editorial Team
