The officials for Canadiens vs. Sabres Game 7 include two returning referees who have already worked separate games this series. Tonight’s stripes:
REFEREES
Jean Hebert #15
Wes McCauley #4
Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
63 / 7
77 / 8
Career Games (RS/PO)
887 / 122
1517 / 228
First NHL Game
3/30/11
1/20/03
First Playoff Game
4/16/15
4/12/07
Birthplace
Bouctouche, NB
Georgetown, ON
Goals/Gm
6.6 (4) | 6.0 (23)
6.1 (22) | 6.2 (10)
PP Opp/Gm
5.9 (14) | 5.5 (14)
5.4 (33) | 5.4 (16)
PPG/Gm
1.4 (6) | 1.2 (13)
1.1 (32) | 1.2 (19)
Penl/Gm
8.0 (4) | 7.6 (6)
7.1 (27) | 7.0 (16)
PIM/Gm
19.3 (8) | 7.6 (5)
17.7 (26) | 16.7 (14)
% of Penl on Home
50.1% (11) | 50.0% (4)
47.2% (19) | 50.0% (16)
% PP Opp for Home
52.3% (17) | 50.0% (39)
51.1% (27) | 50.0% (24)
Penl Diff.*
1.3 (21) | 1.2 (34)
1.4 (9) | 1.4 (10)
Home Win %
58% (23) | 67% (7)
50% (37) | 68% (4)
Home Rec.
39-27-9 | 46-21-7
13-14-4 | 45-19-10
OT/SO Games
15.9% (37) | 20.0% (29)
32.9% (4) | 20.0% (29)
Team Records
25-26
24-25
23-24
25-26
24-25
23-24
MTL
3-1-0
1-2-0
2-1-1
3-0-1
2-1-1
2-0-1
BUF
3-1-0
2-1-0
0-2-0
2-2-1
4-1-0
3-2-0
LINESPERSONS
Scott Cherrey #50
Devin Berg #87
Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
42 / 9
76 / 8
Career Games (RS/PO)
1275 / 180
746 / 97
First NHL Game
10/6/07
10/15/15
First Playoff Game
4/15/11
4/11/18
Birthplace
Drayton, ON
Kitchener, ON
Refs Jean Hebert and Wes McCauley are working together for the first time this postseason
Hebert worked Round 1 with Furman South, handling MIN/DAL Game 1, OTT/CAR Game 2, PHI/PIT Game 4, and MTL/TBL Game 5 (MTL W 3-2). He was paired with Trevor Hanson for the second round, working ANA/VGK Game 1, MTL/BUF Game 2 (MTL W 5-1), and MIN/COL Game 4.
McCauley started the playoffs alongside Brandon Blandina at OTT/CAR Game 1, MIN/DAL Game 2, TBL/MTL Game 4 (MTL L 3-2), and EDM/ANA Game 6. He worked with Chris Rooney for TBL/MTL Game 7 (MTL W 2-1). In Round 2, McCauley skated with Pierre Lambert for MTL/BUF Game 1 (BUF W 4-1), CAR/PHI Game 4, and ANA/VGK Game 5.
This is Wes McCauley’s second Game 7 of this Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Linespersons Scott Cherrey and Devin Berg are also working together for the first time in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Cherrey worked the opening round with Kilian McNamara and the second with Jesse Marquis. Berg started the playoffs alongside James Tobias, switching to skate alongside Ryan Daisy and Shandor Alphonso in Round 2. Cherrey worked Games 1 and 6 of this series; Berg manned the lines for Game 3.
Standby Officials: Garrett Rank (#7), Jesse Marquis (#86)Series Officiating Supervisor: Kay Whitmore
Games: PS (Preseason); RS (Regular Season); PO (Playoffs)
Stats/Numbers: ’25-26 avg. (’25-26 rank) | ’24-25 avg. (’24-25 rank)
Number in orange/parentheses indicated referee’s rank among active officials.
* Penalty Differential represents the absolute value of the variance of penalty calls by team per game. If Team A takes two more penalties (or two fewer) than Team B, this is a 2. Lower numbers indicate less variance between total penalties in a game – that is, a closer number of calls for both teams.
We’ve also got new rules, new refs, promoted officials, and an updated pronunciation guide for 2025-26.
The NHL officials working the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
NHL Officials Advancing to Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
