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Separate routes, identical Eastern Conference final berths.
The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes are set to clash in the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, having reached this stage via remarkably distinct trajectories.
The youthful, ascending Canadiens fought through two demanding seven-game series to secure their spot in the conference final. Conversely, the seasoned and disciplined Hurricanes swept their way through the initial two rounds, propelled by their stifling defensive strategy.
One team played the maximum possible games, the other the minimum. Here are five crucial points to consider before the opening face-off for Game 1 on Thursday evening in Raleigh, N.C.
Well-rested vs. rusty
The discussion commences now. The Hurricanes have been inactive since May 9, when they completed a sweep against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, granting them an 11-day recuperation period. This constitutes the longest interval between series conclusions and the subsequent series start in over a century — only the Canadiens in the 1919 playoffs experienced a longer 12-day layoff.
Enthusiasts of the Canadiens celebrated inside the Bell Centre following Alex Newhook’s overtime goal against the Buffalo Sabres, securing a 3-2 Game 7 victory for Montreal and propelling them to the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2021.
Does this extended break provide an advantage or a disadvantage? Carolina, having recorded the top record in the Eastern Conference this season, also enjoyed a six-day break after sweeping the Ottawa Senators in the first round and seamlessly continued their strong performance with four consecutive victories over the Flyers.
The Hurricanes are the initial team to commence the playoffs with an 8-0 record since the NHL adopted a four-round best-of-seven format in 1987. Meanwhile, the Canadiens overcame their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, to become the first club to win Game 7s in both of the initial two rounds since the 2014 Los Angeles Kings, who ultimately lifted the Stanley Cup.
Leading scorer output
Over the course of two rounds, neither club is experiencing their usual top-line scoring output. Carolina’s Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov have collectively managed merely five goals and 11 points across eight contests.
Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky have accumulated 31 points in 14 games, yet only three of their goals occurred at even strength, with the line spending considerable time defending in their own zone. Caufield — who netted 51 goals this season — and Slafkovsky each possess just one point at five-on-five play.
A positive for the Canadiens is that this typically potent offensive trio tallied eight goals in three regular-season matchups against the Hurricanes, where the Canadiens swept the series with a combined score of 15-8.
Unexpected contributors
Supporting scorers have stepped up for both squads. Carolina’s second forward unit, comprising Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Jackson Blake, exploded for 14 goals in eight games, with Stankoven alone accounting for seven.
Alex Newhook has emerged as a key offensive player for the Canadiens. The 25-year-old from St. John’s, N.L., has found the net seven times — all at even strength — in his last eight appearances, including the decisive goals in both of Montreal’s Game 7 triumphs.
Kirby Dach (four goals), Josh Anderson (three), and Alexandre Texier (three) have also helped compensate for the primary line’s diminished even-strength scoring.
Goaltending showdown
Jakub Dobeš, reminiscent of Jaroslav Halak’s run in 2010, has captivated the Habs faithful with his exceptional performance this spring. The 24-year-old Czech rookie boasts a respectable .910 save percentage and a 2.52 goals-against average, delivering crucial 28- and 37-save efforts to rescue the Canadiens in both Game 7s. He became only the second rookie netminder in NHL history to secure multiple Game 7 road victories in a single post-season, emulating Canadiens legend Ken Dryden (1971).
For the Hurricanes, Frederik Andersen has temporarily alleviated concerns in goal. The 36-year-old Danish veteran leads the playoffs with an impressive .950 save percentage and a 1.12 GAA, benefiting from Carolina’s dominant puck possession and their capacity to restrict high-danger scoring opportunities. The prevailing question is whether the veteran goaltender can sustain this level of play, given his .874 save percentage and 3.05 GAA during the regular season.
Special teams encounter
Montreal’s power play, operating at 25 percent efficiency, will confront a Carolina penalty kill that conceded only two goals on 40 attempts (95 percent success rate) in the initial two rounds. Conversely, Carolina’s power play has struggled, converting at 13.5 percent, while Montreal’s penalty kill registers at 74.1 percent. Both special teams units rank at the bottom among the four remaining contenders.
The Hurricanes and Canadiens are meeting in the playoffs for the third occasion since Carolina’s relocation from Hartford, with the ‘Canes claiming victories in their 2002 and 2006 encounters. Carolina aims to advance to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 2006, having reached the conference final for the fourth time in eight seasons.
