Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs score, results: Carey is priceless in net amid another Toronto Game 7 choke job
Another 7 #Another7
Things were supposed to be different this year.
They added veteran voices. They bolstered the lineup. They added depth. But in the end, it was the same old Maple Leafs. For the third straight year, Toronto was sent packing in a decisive game as the Canadiens skated away with a 3-1 win in Game 7.
After a first period that saw both teams play safe, the Canadiens broke out in the middle frame. Eric Staal poked the puck away from a rushing Mitchell Marner at the Montreal blue line, leading to Gallagher going the other way. The forward then beat Jack Campbell through the five-hole from the top of the left circle. Later in the period, with the Canadiens on the power play, Corey Perry deflected the shot as he screened Campbell.
“It’s just tough. I just think how hard our team battled and for it to end on a goal, the worst goal of my career happened in Game 7. It’s unacceptable,” said an emotional Campbell, regarding the Gallagher goal. “I think the team counts on me to be better and I know I can be better than that. I’m going to get back to work and get better.”
MAPLE LEAFS VS. CANADIENS: Game 5 recap | Game 6 recap
When the Maple Leafs took a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, no one expected it to reach this moment. Montreal — which was under the weight of its own pressure after GM Marc Bergevin went all in with his roster — won Games 5 and 6 in overtime, setting up the ultimate showdown north of the border.
While the skaters were retooled up front, the one constant between the pipes, Carey Price, showcased once again why he is one of the best backstops in the game. Price entered the game with a .926 save percentage and a 1.57 High-Density Goals Saved Above Average at 5v5 (per Natural Stat Trick) in the series. The 33-year-turned aside 30 shots, with his lone blemish a William Nylander goal with 96 seconds left on the clock.
“It’s fun,” said Price with a smile when asked by Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas how he continues to elevate his game in decisive games. (Price entered with a 2-1 record and a .944 save percentage in Game 7s). “It’s why we play the game. These moments that you remember the most.”
Toronto was without the services of Jake Muzzin, who was injured in Game 6. Had the Leafs advanced, he would have missed three weeks. The Maple Leafs also seemed to miss guys who were in the lineup, as Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews struggled not only in this game, but the entire series. Marner collected just four assists (zero goals in 18-straight playoff games) and the Rocket Richard-winning Matthews had just one goal and four points in seven games.
“When it comes to playoff time, everything’s much tighter and they’re obviously a team that defends well. They have great goaltending,” noted Matthews. “In my opinion, I don’t think we had any shortage of chances. It’s a game of inches and we weren’t able to capitalize and, obviously, we’re out there to capitalize and we weren’t able to get it done.”
Added Marner: “Come playoff time you want to be the guy to go to and a guy that can lead a team out of a series. We had multiple looks every single game. … Really no excuse.”
MORE: Why isn’t Muzzin playing Game 7 vs. Canadiens?
While Leafs fans will once again scratch their heads (the team last made it past the first round 17 years ago), there was one positive: For the first time in over a year, fans were in attendance. Fully vaccinated healthcare workers, 550 of them, were in attendance for Game 7.
The Canadiens will now head to Winnipeg to take on the Jets, who eliminated the Oilers in four games. That series begins on Wednesday.
Sporting News had all the action as the Canadiens sent the Maple Leafs packing in Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs (all times Eastern):
Third period: Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 1
9:30 p.m. — GOAL. Puck comes out to William Nylander who breaks through with Price screened. Canadiens lead 3-1.
9:28 p.m. — EN GOAL. Tyler Toffoli from just above his own blue line goes right down the middle. Canadiens lead 3-0.
9:27 p.m. — Another big stop by Price. He’s been phenomenal in this one.
9:26 p.m. — With 3:35 left and a faceoff deep, Keefe pulls the netminder.
9:24 p.m. — Less than five minutes to go.
9:21 p.m. — Joel Armia snags the bouncing puck and Campbell with a solid pad stop to keep it a two-goal game.
9:19 p.m. — Price goes post-to-post to deny Nylander and then a few seconds later stop Matthews.
9:15 p.m. — Foligno was taken down away from the play and Shea Weber goes to the box. Toronto gets a power play and it’s fair to say it needs one here.
9:15 p.m. — Nine minutes to go and Toronto still needs two.
9:14 p.m. — Morgan Rielly off the rush gets a shot through the defense but Price easily turns it aside.
9:11 p.m. — Matthews streaking in is checked and drops to Zach Hyman who is robbed by Price off the shoulder.
9:10 p.m. — Kudos to the Canadiens GM and coach for sporting red suits.
9:06 p.m. — Matthews with a shot that’s turned aside by Price.
9:01 p.m. — Leafs power play is disconnected to start the period and they cannot score with the man advantage.
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9:00 p.m. — Price again makes the stop on Zach Hyman in front as he tries to redirect the shot.
8:59 p.m. — The third period begins with the Maple Leafs on the power play for two full minutes.
8:53 p.m. — Through two periods, Toronto’s forwards have six shots. Yikes.
Second period: Canadiens 2, Maple Leafs 0
8:41 p.m. — Second period ends and the Maple Leafs will start the third period on the power play.
8:40 p.m. — Maple Leafs pull Campbell for the faceoff with 0.2 left but nothing going.
8:39 p.m. — Clock stops with 0.2 on the clock as Joel Armia takes out Travis Dermott away from the play.
8:37 p.m. — Jack Campbell with a critical glove stop.
8:33 p.m. — PP GOAL. Corey Perry doing Corey Perry things and screening the goalie, has the shot by Nick Suzuki go off him and in. Canadiens lead 2-0.
8:30 p.m. — Pierre Engvall gets called for holding Cole Caufield. Canadiens get the first power play of the game.
8:24 p.m. — Holl’s point shot is deflected and Price makes the difficult save.
8:23 p.m. — Auston Matthews on a 2-on-1 is stopped by Price.
8:22 p.m. — Seems the referees have put the whistles away early in this one.
8:19 p.m. — Jack Campbell stops the puck behind his net and isn’t sure where to go with it. Leaves it for his defenseman under pressure but gets coughed up and Josh Anderson misses the wide-open net from a bad angle.
8:16 p.m. — Odds are not in Toronto’s favor for a comeback win.
8:13 p.m. — Leafs are turning things up a notch. Nick Foligno trying to find Zach Hyman on the other side of the crease but Price breaks it up.
8:10 p.m. — Zach Hyman on the doorstep, in the slot, all alone is absolutely robbed by Price.
8:09 p.m. — GOAL. Neither team able to get the puck deep, but then Eric Staal with a big-time poke-check at his own blue line sends Montreal the other way. Brendan Gallagher, on the off-wing and from the top of the circle, beats Jack Campbell five-hole. Canadiens lead 1-0.
8:04 p.m. — Middle frame begins. Who will break through first?
First period: Canadiens 0, Maple Leafs 0
7:46 p.m. — Period comes to an end. Shots are 12-8 in favor of the Canadiens, with Montreal also leading in shot attempts (20-17), according to Natural Stat Trick.
7:33 p.m. — Morgan Rielly skates in from the left point and has a good look but Price makes the save as he sees it all the way (he did look behind).
7:32 p.m. — The Prime Minister weighs in.
7:28 p.m. — Just under 10 minutes left in the period and Canadiens lead 6-5 in shots.
7:25 p.m. — Good block by Nick Suzuki on TJ Brodie point shot. Brodie, if you recall, scored the game-tying goal in Game 6.
7:21 p.m. — Maple Leafs controlling play but not getting much out of it.
7:17 p.m. — Big one-timer by Holl, but Price can see it too. Of note, the two goals Toronto scored in Game 6 were deflections.
7:16 p.m. — Canadiens try to stuff the puck in past Jack Campbell at the side of the net.
7:16 p.m. — Four minutes in and Toronto leads 3-0 in shots, but all were shots Price could see.
7:11 p.m. — Puck has been dropped. Game 7 is on.
Pregame
7:10 p.m. — Fans in the stands.
7:08 p.m. — Maple Leafs, Canadiens and NHL hold a moment of reflection prior to the anthem for the 215 bodies of indigenous children found in Kamloops, B.C.
6:40 p.m. — Maple Leafs lines.
6:40 p.m. — Canadiens lines.
6:30 p.m. — Toronto fans want to exorcise the demons.