A History of Canadiens’ Game 7s Since 1994

The series had taken a remarkable turn in Game 5, when Patrick Roy, returning after having his appendix removed, faced 61 shots and stopped 60 of them in an overtime win to give Montreal a 3-2 series lead. The Canadiens then lost Game 6, the last playoff game ever played at the Montreal Forum, and fell in Game 7 two days later in Boston.

2004: The Comeback Against Boston

Montreal was the seventh seed, Boston the second. The Bruins won the first game by shutout and built a 3-1 series lead before the Canadiens won Games 5 and 6 by a combined score of 10-3, forcing a deciding game. It was the first time in franchise history that Montreal had come back from 3-1 down in a playoff series.

Game 7 stayed scoreless through the first two periods. Late in the third, Alex Kovalev skated behind the net and shot from the goal line. The puck deflected off the side of the net and landed at the crease, where Richard Zednik put it away. Saku Koivu assisted on both that goal and Zednik’s empty-netter to close out a 2-0 win. José Theodore stopped all 32 Boston shots for the first playoff shutout of his career.

2008: Carey Price’s First Game 7 Shutout

Montreal was the top seed and had taken a 3-1 series lead before losing Games 5 and 6 to find itself in a Game 7 at home. It was the first time in the Bruins franchise history that they had rallied from 3-1 down to force a seventh game.

The Canadiens won it decisively. Mike Komisarek scored early in the first. Mark Streit made it 2-0 in the second. Andrei Kostitsyn scored twice and then set up his brother Sergei Kostitsyn for the fifth and final goal. Alex Kovalev had two assists. Carey Price stopped 25 shots in a 5-0 shutout, his first playoff shutout at that stage of his career.

2010: Halak Stuns the Presidents’ Trophy Capitals

The Washington Capitals had won the Presidents’ Trophy with 121 points, finishing 33 ahead of the eighth-seeded Canadiens, and had taken a 3-1 series lead. Jaroslav Halak kept Montreal alive with 37 saves in a Game 5 win and 53 in a 4-1 Game 6 victory to send the series back to Washington.

In Game 7, Marc-André Bergeron scored a 4-on-3 power-play goal late in the first. Dominic Moore scored late in the third to make it 2-0. Brooks Laich scored with just over two minutes left to cut it to 2-1, and Washington had a late power play but couldn’t convert. Halak finished with 41 saves. Montreal took only 16 shots on net but blocked 41 more. Washington’s power play, the best in the league during the regular season, went 1-for-33 across the entire series.

It was the first time in NHL history that an eighth seed had come back from 3-1 down to eliminate a first seed.

2010: Montreal Eliminates the Defending Champion Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins were the defending Stanley Cup champions. Game 7 was also the last game ever played at Mellon Arena before its demolition.

Sidney Crosby took a boarding penalty ten seconds in, and Montreal cashed it immediately, Brian Gionta redirecting a loose puck past Marc-André Fleury just 32 seconds into the game. Dominic Moore added another goal later in the first. In the second, Michael Cammalleri made it 3-0 for his 12th goal of those playoffs, and Travis Moen scored shorthanded to make it 4-0. Pittsburgh got two back to cut it to 4-2, but Gionta scored again on the power play in the third to put it away. Final score: 5-2. Halak stopped 37 of 39 shots.

2011: Nathan Horton Ends the Series in Overtime

Montreal had won the first two games in Boston to take a series lead, then dropped three straight before winning Game 6 to force a decider back at TD Garden.

Boston jumped out 2-0 inside the first six minutes on goals from Johnny Boychuk and Mark Recchi. Yannick Weber scored on the power play to make it 2-1 in the first, and Tomas Plekanec tied it shorthanded in the second. Chris Kelly put Boston back in front in the third. P.K. Subban tied it again on the power play with under two minutes left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Montreal had outshot Boston 37-34 through sixty minutes.

Nathan Horton ended it 5:43 into overtime, a slap shot from the top of the left circle that deflected off Jeff Halpern’s skate and past Carey Price. Boston won 4-3 and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

2014: Price and Brière Silence the Bruins Again

Boston had won the Presidents’ Trophy that season. Montreal had been pushed to the brink, needing a 4-0 Game 6 shutout at home to force a seventh game. Dale Weise opened the scoring early in the first period, converting a cross-crease pass from Daniel Brière. Max Pacioretty scored in the second to make it 2-0, set up by David Desharnais on a 2-on-1.

Jarome Iginla tipped one past Price late in the second to cut it to 2-1, and the Bruins pressed throughout the third, hitting the post at one point, but couldn’t tie it. Daniel Brière scored a late power-play goal, his shot going in off Zdeno Chara’s skate, to make the final 3-1. Price stopped 29 of 30 shots. Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers.

2021: Montreal Completes the Collapse of Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs had led the series 3-1 before Montreal won Games 5 and 6 in overtime, forcing a seventh game in Toronto. Brendan Gallagher scored in the second period to open the scoring. Corey Perry added a power-play goal later in the second.

Tyler Toffoli scored into an empty net in the third to make it 3-0 before William Nylander broke Price’s shutout bid with 1:36 remaining. Price finished with 30 saves in a 3-1 win. Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference Final and went on to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

2026: Another Game 7 Chapter Awaits in Buffalo

The most recent chapter was added two weeks ago. Montreal’s seven-game victory over Tampa Bay in the deciding Game 7 joined this list as a reminder that, despite inconsistencies over the last three decades, the Canadiens have shown comfort when everything is on the line. From Roy to Halak to Price, and now a new generation led by Jakub Dobeš, Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson, the organization has consistently found ways to rise in high-pressure moments.

Game 7s create their own atmosphere and history, regardless of regular-season standings or expectations. Some become defining moments for players, others for eras of a franchise. After what happened against Tampa Bay, the Canadiens should enter Buffalo believing moments like these often bring out their best hockey.