Vasilevskiy, Lightning shut out Canadiens in classic to force Game 7: ‘It was epic’

MONTREAL — Jon Cooper has seen just about everything in his 14 seasons behind an NHL bench — Game 7s, Stanley Cup finals, even Olympic gold-medal games.

And yet, Friday night’s Game 6 overtime win in the first round, the Tampa Bay Lightning coach said, will “rank right up there.”

There was a goalie battle, numerous posts and momentum swings as the Lightning forced a Game 7 in a wild, nerve-racking victory, downing Montreal 1-0 to even the series 3-3 and prevent the Canadiens from advancing in front of a frenzied home crowd.

“It was thrilling. It was epic,” said Cooper. “It was goaltenders making extraordinary saves, players doing things that were of grace and skill and magic. And there was intensity. There were hits. It was everything. And there wasn’t a goal scored, yet everybody in the building was on the edge of their seats.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy earned his eighth career playoff shutout and Gage Goncalves scored the winner 9:03 into the extra period to help the Lightning stave off elimination after dropping a 3-2 decision at home in Game 5.

Goncalves had a couple of attempts at a loose puck after a pass from Dominic James before finally beating Jakub Dobes to end the fourth overtime game in this series, sucking the energy out of an electric Bell Centre bracing for celebrations.

None of it would have been possible without Vasilevskiy and his 30 saves, including back-to-back desperation stops on Ivan Demidov late in the second period.

“I think we found out we’ve got the best goalie in the world. I think we already knew that, but he was incredible,” forward Brandon Hagel said. “That’s just one thing off your mind. You don’t have to worry about that big guy back there.

“It just felt like, from a player’s standpoint, that Vasi was not going to let another goal in.”

The Canadiens had a chance to win moments before the Goncalves goal after Nikita Kucherov’s trip on Alexandre Carrier put them on the power play 5:30 into overtime.

But Vasilevskiy held the fort again, displaying nerves of steel to deny a Lane Hutson one-timer from a dangerous area.

“I didn’t have much emotions,” he said. “I mean for the fans it was probably a roller-coaster, but for me it was pretty even.”

The Vézina Trophy winner also bounced back from a Game 5 blunder, when Alexandre Texier’s shot bounced off his glove and in for the winning goal. Asked about his response, Vasilevskiy replied: “What happened in Game 5?”

His performance overshadowed Dobes, only because he came out on the winning side.

Dobes stopped 32 shots for the Canadiens, denying Kucherov in overtime after he broke in with a chance from Nick Suzuki’s turnover.

The rookie netminder was also Montreal’s best penalty killer when the Lightning went on the power play with 3:18 remaining in regulation, thwarting Grade A chances from Brayden Point and Darren Raddysh after a questionable goalie interference call on Demidov drew loud jeers and chants of “Ref you suck!”

“The two goalies were excellent tonight,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “It’s hard not to like this game, even if you lose.”

“The goalies were perfect and near perfect,” added Canadiens centre Jake Evans. “And the goalposts were great.”

Montreal is the only Canadian team still standing after the Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers bowed out in the first round.

And the Canadiens, despite the crushing loss on home ice, held their heads high as the series shifts back to Tampa, Fla., for Game 7 on Sunday.

“It was an amazing game of hockey. I think the two teams played their best game of the series,” St. Louis said. “This is probably one of the best games I’ve seen this young group play. You’ve just got to embrace the situation.”

There was a bit of everything except scoring in regulation.

The Canadiens were all over the Lightning early in the third but still couldn’t solve Vasilevskiy with a flurry of chances before Jake Guentzel drew a penalty on Kaiden Guhle 5:11 into the period.

Kucherov and Guentzel then hit a pair of posts on the ensuing power play, which also included a missed high stick that cut Point and would have put the Canadiens on a 5-on-3 kill.

Five minutes into the second period, Phillip Danault saved a goal by sweeping the puck off the goal line.

Vasilevskiy later robbed Demidov twice on a Canadiens power play with 1:25 remaining in the second, stretching out for a pad save before reaching back with the glove to deny his backhand off the rebound.

“I’ve watched with him on numerous occasions,” Cooper said. “The bigger the stakes, the more intense the game, he seems to rise to the occasion.”

The energy was palpable hours before puck drop as thousands of fans in Habs sweaters — many with red, white and blue face paint — swarmed the streets around the Bell Centre.

Inside, the building turned into a madhouse pre-game as former enforcer Chris (Knuckles) Nilan carried the torch into the lower bowl.

The game started with instant action in a fast-paced first period as Josh Anderson laid out Erik Cernak nine seconds in.

Lightning forward Yanni Gourde then failed to capitalize after Dobes misplayed the puck behind his own net, before Cole Caufield ripped a shot past Vasilevskiy on a 2-on-1 but couldn’t beat the post.

Then Guentzel also struck iron at the other end — a precursor to how the rest of the night would unfold.

To end on a decisive Game 7 is fitting for the closely contested series, an anticipated matchup of youth versus experience that hasn’t disappointed.

After both teams finished the regular season tied at 106 points, the first three games needed overtime and the next two were decided by a single goal before Friday’s thriller.

“No matter the result, I think we had probably 20 guys that could have looked themselves in the mirror and said they gave everything,” Hagel said. “Credit to everyone out there, but we haven’t won anything yet.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press