Lightning season ends with 2-1 loss to Canadiens in Game 7: Takeaways
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Lightning did everything but outscore the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Sunday night. Unfortunately for the packed house of 19,092, the score is what matters – and the Canadiens got a fluky goal by Alex Newhook with 8:53 remaining in the third period to earn a 2-1 victory and a second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. Newhook broke a 1-1 tie when he picked up the carom of Lane Huston’s shot off the end boards to the right of Andrei Vasilevskiy.
While still behind the net backhanded the puck out of the air, off and the Lightning goaltender’s back and into the net. It was his first goal of the series. That was one of just nine shots on goal in the game by the Canadiens, who were outskated and outplayed.
They went nearly 27 minutes without a shot on goal in one stretch that included a shotless second period. Montreal became the first team since shots on goal became an official stat in 1959-60 to win a playoff game without reaching double figures. Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images “They had two, we had one,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said.
“It’s tough to put into words how this ended up. ” Montreal rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes preserved the lead with a handful of excellent stops after Newhook’s goal. He finished with 28 saves to earn First Star of the Game honors.
Dobes made excellent stops on shots by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jake Guentzel shortly after Newhook’s go-ahead goal. He also got his toe on a low rocket by James with less than five minutes remaining. The Lightning lost their fourth consecutive first-round series.
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