After an entertaining series between the two rivals, it was perhaps fitting that a seventh and deciding game in Tampa Bay was needed to determine who would advance.
In the first period, where the Bolts outshot the Habs 9-4, it looked like Tampa were more likely to go in front. Yet, it was the Habs who led after a shot from distance by Kaiden Guhle was tipped home by Nick Suzuki.
That was the only meaningful opportunity of the opening frame, where neither side had a power play at any point. That would change in the second, as both teams had to play a man down at one point.
Tampa's second power play proved to be key, as they found their leveller with 6:33 left. Just like Montreal's goal, it came off a tipped stick. Charles D'Astous and Gage Goncalves traded passes before the former went for a goal.
Dominic James put out his stick to beat Jakub Dobes.
Remarkably, the Habs did not have a single shot on goal in the second period, marking the first time in their franchise history that they failed to put up at least one in a single period in any game.
The final period of regulation went much like the first, as the Lightning looked the more threatening team.
However, the Canadiens went on to find the winner. Lane Hutson's initial shot went just wide of the goal, but Alex Newhook was first to the puck to try his luck from a tight angle.
The backhand shot went into the roof of the net, with Andrei Vasilevski too slow to react.
The last 8:53 saw the Lightning try to level the score once again, with their season on the line. This time, they were out of luck. Despite bringing on a sixth attacker for the final few minutes, they could not find their way past Dobes a second time.
In total, the Habs had just nine shots on goal in the game - the fewest in NHL history, beating out the New York Islanders, who put up 11 in 2015 during Game 7 against the Washington Capitals.
Montreal won the series 4-3. Next for them will be the Buffalo Sabres, who had needed six games to defeat the Boston Bruins.