Montreal beats Buffalo 3-2 in overtime

The Montreal Canadiens moved into the NHL’s Eastern Conference final after a 3-2 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, setting up a series against the Carolina Hurricanes. ESPN’s conference-final preview said the result on May 19 completed the Eastern bracket and sent Montreal into the round against Carolina. The matchup pairs one of the league’s most decorated franchises with a Hurricanes team that already had its place in the final four secured. Montreal enters the series with an NHL-record 24 Stanley Cup championships, according to ESPN. ### How did Montreal get here? Monday’s 3-2 overtime win over Buffalo was the result that sent Montreal through. ESPN’s preview said the Canadiens advanced on that May 19 result, while Daily Faceoff’s series preview identified Alex Newhook as the player who scored the overtime goal past Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. (msn.com) Buffalo had pushed Montreal to another winner-take-all game in the second round, according to Daily Faceoff. Sporting News’ playoff tracker also described Buffalo as a team that had ended the NHL’s longest playoff drought by reaching this postseason as Atlantic Division champions. (msn.com) ### Why is the opponent Carolina? The Carolina Hurricanes had already clinched their place in the Eastern Conference final before Montreal finished off Buffalo. NBC’s playoff schedule page said Carolina was one of the four remaining teams, and Yahoo’s conference-finals roundup said the Hurricanes had not played since May 9, when they swept the Philadelphia Flyers. (dailyfaceoff.com) NHL.com’s conference-finals schedule lists the matchup as Montreal Canadiens versus Carolina Hurricanes in the East. The same schedule shows Carolina with home-ice advantage, with the opening games set for Raleigh. ### What stands out about Montreal in this round? ESPN’s preview said Montreal owns an NHL-record 24 Stanley Cup championships. (nbcnewyork.com) That history gives the Canadiens a distinction no other NHL club matches, even as this year’s team reaches the conference final through a current playoff run rather than past titles. (nhl.com) ABC11’s preview of the series described the conference final as the battle to represent the East in the Stanley Cup Final. The outlet said Game 1 will be played at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. ### When does the series start, and what is the schedule? NHL.com’s official conference-finals schedule says Game 1 is set for Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. (msn.com) ET in Carolina. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, also in Raleigh, before the series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Monday, May 25, and Game 4 on Wednesday, May 27. (abc11.com) Sporting News’ playoff schedule page separately lists the postseason calendar and broadcast information for the road to the Stanley Cup. NHL.com’s schedule lists Games 5 through 7, if necessary, for May 29, May 31 and June 2. ### What happens next? (nhl.com) Thursday, May 21, is the next date on the schedule, when Montreal opens the Eastern Conference final at Carolina. NHL.com lists the series as a best-of-seven, with the winner advancing to the Stanley Cup Final against either the Colorado Avalanche or the Vegas Golden Knights. (nhl.com) (sportingnews.com)