Goaltending Decides Game 7
Jakob Dobes outdueled Andrei Vasilevskiy in the decisive game, stopping 28 shots as Montreal dispatched Tampa Bay in seven games. The Canadiens finished one goal better at even strength, outscoring the Lightning 11-to-10.
One could argue the only goaltender who played better in the first round was Carolina's Frederik Andersen.
Second-Round Matchup Set
Montreal will face Buffalo in the next round. The Canadiens survived Round 1 on elite goaltending and depth scoring, but advancing against the Sabres will require their star trio to reclaim their dominance.
Top Line Struggled Against Lightning
Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky formed one of the league's deadliest lines all season long. However, they were held in check by Tampa Bay.
The Lightning threw Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, and Nikita Kucherov against Montreal's best line. The result: a combined minus-four for the Canadiens' top unit.
Depth Players Stepped Up
Without Alex Texier, Kirby Dach, and Zach Bolduc outscoring Tampa Bay 6-0 in their minutes, Montreal might not be discussing a second-round appearance.
Giving credit to Montreal's depth for picking up the slack when the team needed it most. But the Canadiens need more from their big guns to upset the Sabres.
Buffalo has incredible depth and can roll three lines and three pairings confidently – similar to how they handled Boston in Round 1.