#NHLPeachy @NHL #NHLStats Pack: Lightning Evade Elimination in Overtime to Force 7 vs. Canadiens

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Game 7 History

* This will be the 202nd Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs history and first to be guaranteed in 2026.

* There has been at least one Game 7 in the first best-of-seven round in 22 of the past 24 postseasons (including 2026). There were multiple Game 7s in the First Round each year from 2021 to 2025.

* There have been at least three Game 7s in 18 consecutive playoff years (from 2008 to 2025).

* Three of the past six Stanley Cup champions required a Game 7 win along the way: Florida in the Second Round last year as well as the 2024 Final, and Tampa Bay in the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals.

* Since all rounds went to best-of-seven in 1987, six eventual Stanley Cup champions required a Game 7 in the opening round (2014 LAK, 2011 BOS, 1992 PIT, 1991 PIT, 1990 EDM & 1989 CGY).

Game 7 History – Tampa Bay and Montreal

* This will be the first Game 7 between the Lightning and Canadiens. It will be the 129th unique Game 7 matchup in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (Game 7 in UTA-VGK would add to the count).

* The Lightning own the highest winning percentage in Game 7s among franchises that have contested more than five in their history, taking a .700 mark into their 11th all-time Game 7 (7-3 in 10 GP). The Lightning are 4-1 in Game 7s at home, with an .800 winning percentage in that scenario ranking tied for third among clubs that have hosted at least three (NYR: .889; SJS: .833; EDM: .800). Of note, Vegas could host one Sunday.

* The Canadiens will contest their 25th all-time Game 7 (15-9 in 24 GP) and 14th on the road (7-6 in 13 GP). Montreal can tie Boston (16) for the most Game 7 wins in Stanley Cup Playoffs history and extend their own benchmark for Game 7 road victories.

* Nine players who played for Tampa Bay in its last Game 7 (2022 R1 at TOR) have skated in this series: Erik Cernak, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Nikita Kucherov, Ryan McDonagh, Nick Paul, Corey Perry, Brayden Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Victor Hedman also played in that contest.

* Seven players who skated for Montreal in its last Game 7 (2021 R1 at TOR) are part of this series: Canadiens teammates Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Phillip Danault, Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki, plus now-Lightning forward Corey Perry.

* Montreal has required overtime in six Game 7s (3-3), including twice on the road (0-2). Their victories were in the 1992 Division Semifinals (vs. HFD), 1986 Division Finals (vs. HFD) and 1979 Semifinals (vs. BOS) and their defeats in the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals (at BOS), 1985 Division Finals (vs. QUE) and 1954 Stanley Cup Final (at DET). Tampa Bay has yet to play overtime in a Game 7.

* Tampa Bay has had 70% of its Game 7s decided by one goal (7 of 10; 5-2 record), while Montreal has had 10 of its Game 7s resolved that way (10 of 24; 5-5 record).

* Six Game 7s involving the Lightning have been shutouts (4 wins, 2 losses), while Montreal has been involved in three Game 7 shutouts (all wins).

Players and Head Coaches in Game 7s

Based on active roster (excluding Injury Reserve List).

* Twenty-three players in this series have played in a Game 7 during the Stanley Cup Playoffs (TBL: 13; MTL: 10), for a total of 64 appearances in Game 7s (TBL: 52; MTL: 12). Tampa Bay players have a combined 32-20 team record in Game 7s, compared to a 7-5 mark for Montreal players. Lightning skaters have accumulated 11-8—19 in Game 7s while Canadiens skaters have 1-4—5. Of note, Victor Hedman (who has practiced during this series) is excluded from the counts above along with others on the IR. Hedman has one assist and a 5-3 record in eight career Game 7s.

* Corey Perry (4-2—6 in 11 GP; 5-6 record) has more points and nearly as many appearances in Game 7s as the entire Canadiens roster (1-4—5 in 12 GP). Perry, who has the most Game 7 appearances by any player in these playoffs, would become the 12th to play in a dozen Game 7s (among skaters and goaltenders) – which he has done across five clubs. Perry skated in the most recent Game 7 for both the Lightning (2022 R1 at TOR) and Canadiens (2021 R1 at TOR), with his last point in a Game 7 coming during his 2021 appearance with Montreal (GWG).

* Ryan McDonagh (0-1—1 in 10 GP; 8-2 record) also has nearly as much Game 7 experience on his own as the entire Montreal squad. McDonagh can set a new Stanley Cup Playoffs record for most career Game 7 wins as a player (skater or goaltender) and match Peter DeBoer (9) for the most all-time including players and head coaches.

* Two Canadiens players have multiple Game 7s: Brendan Gallagher (1-2—3 in 2 GP; 2-0 record) and Phillip Danault (0-1—1 in 2 GP; 1-1 record). The only other Montreal player with a point in Game 7 is captain Nick Suzuki (0-1—1 in 1 GP; 1-0 record).

* Four players in this series have a winning goal in a Game 7: Oliver Bjorkstrand (2023 R1 w/ SEA at COL), Nick Paul (2022 R1 w/ TBL at TOR), Yanni Gourde (2021 SCSF w/ TBL vs. NYI) and Corey Perry (2021 R1 w/ MTL at TOR). Bjorkstrand has at least one goal in both his Game 7 appearances and can join a list that currently includes nine players who have tallied in each of their first three or more such contests.

* Andrei Vasilevskiy (2-2 in 4 GP) can become the third active goaltender with at least three Game 7 wins, following Sergei Bobrovsky (3-0) and Jake Oettinger (3-1). Of note, Jonathan Quick (4-1; retired) and Carey Price (3-1; LTIR) are excluded from this measure.

* Andrei Vasilevskiy (.945 SV% & 1.51 GAA in 4 GP) ranks fifth for career save percentage in Game 7s (min. 4 GP; since 1956) behind Henrik Lundqvist (.961 in 8 GP), Ken Wregget (.954 in 4 GP), Carey Price (.950 in 4 GP) and Jake Oettinger (.950 in 4 GP). Vasilevskiy’s career Game 7 goals-against average of 1.51 is tied with Wregget for fourth all-time (again min. 4 GP) behind Lundqvist (1.11), Nikolai Khabibulin (1.40 in 4 GP) and Price (1.47).

* Andrei Vasilevskiy (1 SO) can match the Stanley Cup Playoffs record for career Game 7 shutouts (Patrick Roy, Curtis Joseph, Tim Thomas and Ben Bishop: all w/ 2).

* Jakub Dobes can become the eighth different rookie to play any winner-take-all for the Canadiens and sixth to contest a Game 7. Montreal rookie goaltenders have a combined 6-4 record across their 10 previous winner-take-all contests (5-2 in Game 7s). The Game 7 appearances: Carey Price (5-0 W in 2008 CQF vs. BOS), Patrick Roy (2-1 OT W in 1986 DF vs. HFD), Steve Penney (3-2 OT L in 1985 DF vs. QUE), Ken Dryden (3-2 W in 1971 SCF at CHI & 4-2 W in 1971 QF at BOS) and Jacques Plante (3-1 L in 1955 SCF at DET & 4-1 W in 1953 SF vs. CHI). Dryden (2x) and Plante are the only Montreal rookie goaltenders to play a Game 7 on the road.

* The last rookie goaltender to play a Game 7 for any team was Arturs Silovs (3-2 L in 2024 R2 w/ VAN vs. EDM) and the last to win was Akira Schmid (4-0 W in 2023 R1 w/ NJD vs. NYR). The last rookie goaltender to play a Game 7 for any team on the road was Jeremy Swayman (3-2 L in 2022 R1 w/ BOS at CAR) and the last to win on the road was Jordan Binnington (4-1 W in 2019 SCF w/ STL at BOS). Overall, rookie goaltenders are 31-34 in Game 7s (plus five no decisions), including a 14-17 mark on the road (plus four no decisions).

* Jon Cooper (4-2 in 6 GC) can become the first head coach in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to win at least five Game 7s with one franchise. He would break a tie with Bob Hartley (4 w/ COL), Tommy Ivan (4 w/ DET), Claude Julien (4 w/ BOS) and Darryl Sutter (4 w/ LAK). Cooper will be the fourth head coach to guide one club in seven Game 7s: Julien (9 w/ BOS), Hartley (7 w/ COL) and Mike Babcock (7 w/ DET).

* Martin St. Louis logged two assists and a 6-2 record in eight career Game 7s as a player, with half of each of those totals coming with the Lightning (0-1—1, 3-1 record in 4 GP). He will become the fifth head coach to face a team in a Game 7 after playing in one for that club, following Tom Johnson (MTL), Jimmy Roberts (MTL), Billy Reay (MTL) and Al MacNeil (CHI).

* Find career Game 7 statistics for all current players and head coaches in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Interactive Information Guide (Tampa Bay: page 37; Montreal: page 44).

Game 7 Trends and Records.NHL.com Links

* The team that scores first is 151-50 (.751) in the 201 all-time Game 7s (1-2 in 2025).

* Home teams own a 118-83 (.587) advantage in the 201 all-time Game 7s (2-1 in 2025).

* 104 of the 201 all-time Game 7s (51.7%) have been decided by a one-goal margin, including one of three in 2025.

* 50 Game 7s have required overtime (24.9%); home teams have a 27-23 (.540) edge in those contests (1-0 in 2025). Fourteen Game 7s have required multiple OT periods (last: STL at WPG in 2025 R1) and two have extended beyond that (NYI at WSH 4 OT in 1987 DSF & NYR at BOS 3OT in 1939 SF, the first-ever Game 7).

* A team has overcome a deficit to win in 62 of the 201 all-time Game 7s (30.8%), including 15 multi-goal comeback wins. The maximum deficit a winning team has faced in a Game 7 is three goals (SJS in 2019 R1, BOS in 2013 CQF, PHI in 2010 CSF, EDM in 1991 DSF & WSH in 1988 DSF).

* A team has won a Game 7 after trailing in the third period 27 times, including five multi-goal third-period comeback victories (WPG in 2025 R1, DAL in 2025 R1, SJS in 2019 R1, BOS in 2013 CQF & MTL in 1979 SF).

* There have been 36 all-time shutouts in Game 7s, 24 by the home team and 12 by the road team.

* Download the PDF for Records.NHL.com links on Skaters, Goaltenders and Teams.