Alex Newhook delivered another defining NHL playoff moment on Monday night, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 and sending Montreal into the Eastern Conference Finals.
Newhook scored 11:22 into overtime, his second Game 7-winning goal of the postseason. The forward moved up the left wing, used Rasmus Dahlin as a screen, and snapped a low shot past goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen inside the far post.
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After the game, Newhook broke down the sequence in a calm and direct manner.
“Yeah. I mean, I saw Cale get it and just tried to hop out wide there,” he told Sportsnet. “Great play by him to get it to me on the far side, and I remember Jakey driving the net. I just tried to pull it in. Great net drive to kind of back up the D-man, and shot it through the legs there, I think so.”
The winner capped another clutch outing from Newhook, who also scored the decisive goal in Montreal’s first-round Game 7 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this month.
Against Tampa Bay, Newhook showed elite hand-eye coordination by batting a rebound out of midair past Andrei Vasilevskiy in the third period. Against Buffalo, the finish relied more on timing, patience, and shot placement.
However, he called the goal a group effort.
“A lot of emotions for sure,” Newhook said. “I mean, it’s a group effort all series long. We had a lot of guys step up at different moments, and we found a way tonight, and we’re moving forward. So it’s exciting.”
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Canadiens showing playoff maturity
Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook (15) celebrates with teammate defenseman Lane Hutson (48) at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Montreal’s latest win reflected more than individual brilliance. The Canadiens opened with goals from Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc before Buffalo forced overtime. Goalie Jakub Dobes made 37 saves to steady the team after momentum shifted late. Newhook believes Montreal’s depth is becoming its biggest strength. “For sure, I mean, I think we have all the pieces,” Newhook said, about the young Canadiens team’s potential while reflecting on his Stanley Cup win with Colorado. “We believe in each other. I think we got the depth. It’s huge come playoff time to be able to roll all your lines and get everyone involved, and we play with a lot of pace. “So I think, you know, we’re a dangerous team. And we’re confident, we believe in each other. So gotta keep it rolling.” MORE: Nick Suzuki slams Canadiens after ugly Game 6 collapse vs. Sabres That confidence now faces its toughest test against the Carolina Hurricanes, a rested group that swept through its first two playoff rounds.
