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The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens are heading to overtime tied 2-2 in Game 7 on Monday, May 18.If there had been any concerns about the goaltending after three goalie pulls in the last two games, the netminders responded.Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who had been pulled in Game 5 but stopped all 18 shots he faced in relief of pulled Alex Lyon in Game 6, started for Buffalo. Jakub Dobes made his 14th consecutive start for Montreal after being pulled in an 8-3 Sabres win in Game 6.Montreal took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Phillip Danault and Zach Bolduc. Buffalo's Jordan Greenway and Rasmus Dahlin scored to tie the game.Buffalo is hosting Game 7 but has not had much home-ice advantage this postseason, going 2-4 at KeyBank Center. Montreal is 5-2 on the road, including a Game 7 win at Tampa in the first round.USA TODAY is providing live coverage of Game 7 of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series. The winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals. Follow along:Overtime underwayScore is 2-2.End of third periodWe're headed to overtime as Buffalo completed a comeback from a 2-0 deficit on a Rasmus Dahlin goal.2 minutes leftStill 2-2.Nearly 5 minutes leftJakub Dobes stops a hard-charging Rasmus Dahlin. Still 2-2.Sabres appear to score, but it's waved offReferee blows the whistle, thinking Jakub Dobes froze the puck, but it trickles through and the Sabres pounce and score. But no goal because the whistle blew.Sabres score: Rasmus Dahlin ties gameRasmus Dahlin pinches in, takes a pass in the faceoff circle and beats Jakub Dobes before the goalie can get over there. Sabres 2, Canadiens 2Jason Zucker runs over Jakub DobesJakub Dobes freezes the puck and Jason Zucker collides with him. Dobes complains but no penalty.Buffalo goes on power playThe Sabres get their first power play as Phillip Danault is called for high-sticking. Danault is a key penalty killer. Buffalo doesn't get much pressure and the penalty is killed.Third period underway2-1 Montreal. Winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals.End of second period: Canadiens 2, Sabres 1It seemed like Buffalo spent nearly all of that period in the Montreal end. Buffalo made it a one-goal game when Mattias Samuelsson's shot deflected in off Jordan Greenway's pants. The Sabres had other glorious chances in the final minutes. Montreal will have to figure out a way to stop that.Sabres pressuring againAlex Tuch is stopped twice and then Ryan McLeod. After the next faceoff, Jakub Dobes makes a shoulder save on Tage Thompson.Jordan Greenway awarded goalAn ESPN replay shows that Mattias Samuelsson's shot brushed against Jordan Greenway's pants before going into the net. And the summary says Greenway.Sabres score: Mattias Samuelsson gets first Buffalo goalAll that pressure and cycling pays off. Mattias Samuelsson grabs a loose puck in the slot and his shot banks in off Josh Anderson. Canadiens 2, Sabres 1Sabres are pressuringBuffalo spends more than a minute in the Montreal zone, but a few blocks and a Jakub Dobes glove save on Alex Tuch keeps the Sabres scoreless.Josh Anderson slow to get upThe Canadiens player shoots high on a breakaway and then crashes into the net. He's now on the bench.Buffalo power play taken awayMontreal is called for a four-minute high-sticking penalty, but a replay showed it was Zach Benson who caught teammate Josh Norris with a high stick. Penalty rescinded.Second period underway2-0 Montreal. Winner goes to the Eastern Conference finals.End of first period: Canadiens 2, Sabres 0Montreal gets goals from Phillip Danault and Zach Bolduc for the lead. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen can't be blamed for either. The first goal went off a skate and there was a defensive breakdown on the second goal. Luukkonen kept it a two-goal game by stopping Alexandre Texier on a breakaway. Jakub Dobes is solid in the Montreal net. He's 5-0 after a loss in these playoffs. Shots are 11-9 Montreal.Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen saveThe Sabres goalie stops Alexandre Texier on a breakaway.Canadiens score: Zach Bolduc gets power-play goalZach Bolduc is left alone in the faceoff circle and Nick Suzuki feeds him on a no-look pass for a power-play goal. Canadiens 2, Sabres 0Canadiens go on power playZach Benson puts the puck over the glass while attempting a clear after Cole Caufield's chances, and Montreal scores.Big saves by Ukko-Pekka LuukonenHe makes two glove saves on Cole Caufield then Buffalo takes a penalty.Sabres are pressuringJakub Dobes makes a save on a Jack Quinn partial breakaway, then the Sabres continue applying pressure. Dobes finally dives on the puck to stop play.10 minutes in1-0 Canadiens. Shots are 6-3 Buffalo.Canadiens score: Phillip Danault opens scoringAnother early goal in this series. Phillip Danault deflects in a Kaiden Guhle shot at 4:30. It goes in off his skate. Danault is appearing in his fourth Game 7. Canadiens 1, Sabres 0Game underwayBuffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen vs. Montreal's Jakub Dobes in net. Starting lines are the Alex Tuch vs. Alex Newhook.What time is Sabres vs. Canadiens Game 7?Game 7 is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Buffalo's KeyBank Center.What TV channel is Sabres vs. Canadiens Game 7?Game 7 will be broadcast on ESPN.Sabres vs. Canadiens Game 7: How to watch, streamDate: Monday, May 18Time: 7:30 p.m. ETLocation: KeyBank CenterTV: ESPNStreaming: FuboUkko-Pekka Luukkonen to start for SabresHe picked up the Game 6 win in relief, stopping all 18 shots he faced.Buffalo Sabres linesMontreal Canadiens linesSabres, Canadiens coaches' Game 7 recordsBuffalo's Lindy Ruff is 1-4 and Montreal's Martin St. Louis is 1-0, the Game 7 win from the first round.Sabres vs Canadiens Game 7 predictionsMike Brehm: Sabres 5, Canadiens 3. History would seem to favor the Canadiens, who have forced Sabres coach Lindy Ruff to make a goalie change the last two games. But the Sabres stormed back and chased goalie Jakub Dobes in their 8-3 win in Game 6. Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson played big roles and they will again, even without any Game 7 experience.Kevin Skiver: Sabres 6, Canadiens 4. Both teams are scoring a lot lately, and a mix of fatigue and familiarity may well be a factor. Buffalo gets to play Game 7 at home having staved off elimination, and that will give the Sabres a big boost. With Montreal going into its 14th game this postseason, the Sabres advance to see a Carolina Hurricanes team that is undoubtedly just itching to play again at this point.Game 7 winning goalMontreal's Alex Newhook is the only player in this series with a winning goal in a Game 7. He scored the tiebreaking goal with 8:53 left in the third period in the first round at Tampa Bay.Canadiens, Sabres Game 7 recordThe Canadiens are 16-9 all-time in Game 7s and can set an NHL record for most Game 7 victories if they win. They're currently tied with the Boston Bruins (16-15). The Sabres, meanwhile, are 1-6 all-time in Game 7s.
