There are only two words in sports that can make the hair on your arms stand up: Game Seven. Tonight, Monday, May 18, 2026, the Montreal Canadiens take on the Buffalo Sabres in a winner-take-all Conference Semi-Final clash. After a grueling back-and-forth series, it all comes down to 60 minutes of hockey at the KeyBank Center.
TV Channels, Streaming Options, and Regional Blackouts Explained
If you are eager to tune in, the puck drops tonight at exactly 7:30 PM EDT.
In the USA: Hockey fans can watch the game nationally on ESPN. If you prefer cord-cutting, the game will be streaming live on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
In Canada: The broadcast will be available coast-to-coast on Sportsnet and CBC. For French-language coverage, fans can tune into TVA Sports. Live streaming is also available via Sportsnet+.
Regional Blackouts Explained:
During the NHL regular season, regional blackouts are a constant headache for fans. They happen when a local regional sports network (RSN) buys the exclusive broadcast rights to air a team’s game in their home market. To protect the RSN’s TV ratings, national feeds are “blacked out” for viewers living in that local zip or postal code. However, there is great news for tonight! During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, regional blackouts are completely lifted. Because these games are nationally televised exclusives, you will not be restricted from watching Game 7 based on your geographic location.
2026 NHL Playoff Records, Top Scorers & Game Prediction
Both teams have fought tooth and nail, entering tonight with identical 3-3 records in this second-round series. In their last game (Game 6), the Buffalo Sabres silenced the Bell Centre crowd with a staggering 8-3 victory, chasing Montreal rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes from the crease.
Top 5 Playoff Scorers Habs and Sabres
- Buffalo Sabres: Tage Thompson (15 pts), Rasmus Dahlin (13 pts), Josh Doan (10 pts), Zach Benson (9 pts), Alex Tuch (7 pts).
- Montreal Canadiens: Alex Newhook (11 pts), Jake Evans (10 pts), Nick Suzuki (9 pts), Cole Caufield (8 pts), Juraj Slafkovsky (7 pts).
Key Injuries: The war of attrition is real in the 2026 playoffs. Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin is playing through a nasty cut lip sustained in Game 4 but remains a force on the blue line. Meanwhile, Montreal is dealing with lingering bumps and bruises, forward Patrik Laine, which has forced coach Martin St. Louis to lean heavily on his top six forwards.
Game Score Prediction & Insight
The betting odds for tonight are currently set at Buffalo -122, with the Over/Under at 5.5 goals. Personally, I am hammering the Sabres on the moneyline and taking the Under. Being in the building for a Game 7 in Buffalo is an electric, deafening experience. After watching Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen bounce back with confidence, I see the Sabres clamping down defensively and suffocating Montreal’s transition game. My official prediction is a tight, grind-it-out 3-2 victory for the Buffalo Sabres. Game 7s are historically cautious, so the Under 5.5 feels like the smartest play on the board.
If you are looking for more information on finding the Montreal Canadiens on TV today, the complete Buffalo Sabres TV schedule, looking up the final NHL point leaders 2025-26 season, or if you want to enter our NHL playoff hockey pool for cash prizes, be sure to visit the links scattered across our website!
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