Game 7: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
Start time: 7:30 PM EDT / 4:30 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: RDS (French)
In the Sabres region: MSG Buffalo
Streaming: Prime Monday Night Hockey, RDS
With Samuel Montembeault struggling to find his typical form, the Canadiens will turn to Jakub Dobeš in net once again. Montembeault has a 2-2-0 record from his four start and a surprising .857 save percentage, while Dobeš is yet to lose a game in 2025-26 with his mark of .940. It will be Dobeš’s sixth start at the Bell Centre of what will be 18 total since joining the team late last December.
Buffalo counters with Alex Lyon, as their starter is out for a different reason. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been week-to-week with a lower-body injury since the pre-season. Lyon has been doing everything the Sabres could have asked from him as he’s been thrust into the starter’s role, playing all five games so far and responding by posting a .929 save percentage. Buffalo’s slow start had nothing to do with the goaltending, but Montreal was able to score five on him as a member of the Detroit Red Wings last season, and four in a meeting the previous year.
The Canadiens don’t need to change a whole lot of anything after losing on Saturday night to the New York Rangers. It was a difficult stretch to begin the third period that spoiled what was otherwise a stifling effort versus one of the top possession teams. Staying focused for the full 60 minutes will be the best way to contain the Sabres and get back in the win column.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| #13 Cole Caufield |
#14 Nick Suzuki |
#20 Juraj Slafkovský |
| #15 Alex Newhook |
#91 Oliver Kapanen |
#93 Ivan Demidov |
| #17 Josh Anderson |
#71 Jake Evans |
#11 Brendan Gallagher |
| #76 Zachary Bolduc |
#90 Joe Veleno |
#62 Owen Beck |
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| #8 Mike Matheson |
#53 Noah Dobson |
| #47 Jayden Struble |
#48 Lane Hutson |
| #72 Arber Xhekaj |
#45 Alexandre Carrier |
| Starter |
Backup |
| #75 Jakub Dobeš |
#35 Samuel Montembeault |
Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle. Patrik Laine
Buffalo Sabres projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| Zach Benson |
Jiri Kulich |
Tage Thompson |
| Josh Doan |
Ryan McLeod |
Alex Tuch |
| Jason Zucker |
Peyton Krebs |
Jack Quinn |
| Josh Dunne |
Tyson Kozak |
Noah Ostlund |
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| Bowen Byram |
Rasmus Dahlin |
| Owen Power |
Conor Timmins |
| Mattias Samuelsson |
Zach Metsa |
| Starter |
Backup |
| Alex Lyon |
Colten Ellis |
