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Sebastian Aho initiated a three-goal burst late in the initial period, and Frederik Andersen comfortably made 18 saves, securing his third playoff shutout, as the Carolina Hurricanes effortlessly defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Wednesday to establish a 3-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference final.
Jordan Staal, Logan Stankoven, and Andrei Svechnikov, with an empty-net goal, also found the net for Carolina.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Shayne Gostisbehere each contributed two assists for the Hurricanes, who became the seventh franchise in NHL annals to achieve six or more road playoff victories at the start of a post-season run.
Jakub Dobes blocked 39 shots for Montreal.
The best-of-seven contest now moves back to the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., for Game 5 on Friday. Game 6, if required, would take place back at the Bell Centre on Sunday.
The Canadiens claimed the series’ inaugural game 6-2 on the road before Carolina secured back-to-back 3-2 overtime wins to take a 2-1 lead prior to Wednesday’s match.
This particular game was far less competitive.
Aho broke a scoreless deadlock at 14:59 of a rugged first period during a power play, scoring with a one-timer following a pass from Ehlers.
Staal extended the lead to 2-0 at 16:07 when he outmaneuvered Josh Anderson in front of Dobes and redirected a K’Andre Miller feed through the five-hole.
Gostisbehere then made a crucial block on a Lane Hutson attempt, and the Hurricanes quickly transitioned on a 2-on-1 rush, with Jackson Blake setting up Stankoven for Carolina’s third goal in just 2:47.
Dobes, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday, was required to be sharp early against a Blake breakaway and a Taylor Hall one-time shot after former Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak carried the team’s ceremonial torch into the vibrant arena before the opening face-off.
Montreal, having collectively recorded merely 25 shots in Games 2 and 3, eventually found some offensive momentum against the relentless Carolina during a power play, which saw Ivan Demidov get a couple of good scoring opportunities against Andersen before things unraveled with five minutes remaining in the period.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis rearranged his forward combinations seeking a spark to begin the second period, as his team again struggled to generate significant offense.
Cole Caufield had a rush chance that Andersen intently tracked, before Svechnikov, who netted the overtime winner in Game 3, sent a puck clanging off the crossbar at the opposite end.
Montreal endured a two-man disadvantage for 1:44 later in the period through desperate defensive efforts.
Eric Robinson had an opportunity to make the score 4-0 after the penalties expired but failed to convert into an open net from a tight angle.
Anderson got a reasonable shot as Montreal attempted to press, but Carolina’s Andersen, who established a franchise record with his fifth playoff shutout, surpassing Cam Ward, also turned that one aside.
The home crowd attempted to rally behind their squad to commence the third period.
The Hurricanes, however, had alternative plans, delivering a nearly identical display of their stifling, persistent performances from Games 2 and 3 to push the Canadiens to the verge of elimination.
