In a surprising turn of events, the Montreal Canadiens handed the Carolina Hurricanes their first loss of the playoffs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. The rejuvenated team seized the opening minutes, scoring four first-period goals to win 6-2. This victory pushed the Hurricanes' losing streak in these games to 1-13.
Montréal Canadiens celebrate their third goal during the first period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C.
, Thursday, May 21, 2026. Montréal Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki collides with Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis resulting in both getting penalties during the first period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series in Raleigh, N.C. , Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Montréal Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov shoots the puck past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen for a goal during the first period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series in Raleigh, N.C. , Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Montréal Canadiens’ Mike Matheson takes out Carolina Hurricanes’ Taylor Hall in front of Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes during the second period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series in Raleigh, N.C. , Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis has his shot blocked by Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes during the second period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series in Raleigh, N.C. , Thursday, May 21, 2026.
, Thursday, May 21, 2026. RALEIGH, N.C. — The Montreal Canadiens pounced for four first-period goals on slow-starting Carolina — coming off the longest postseason break in more than a century — and handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the playoffs with a 6-2 victory Thursday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault scored in the opening four minutes, Alexandre Texier followed four minutes later, and Ivan Demidov finished a breakaway for a shocking 4-1 lead midway through the opening period. That came against the Eastern Conference’s top seed, which hadn’t allowed more than two goals in an 8-0 playoff start.
Juraj Slafkovksy scored twice in the third period for Montreal, the second on a late empty-netter, while Jakub Dobes had 24 saves.since the NHL went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987. But that led to a lengthy break of 11 days, the longest rest for any team before starting the next playoff run since at least 1920, while waiting on the Canadiens to battle their way past That led to the rest-versus-rust discussion about the Hurricanes, along with how well the Canadiens would pivot from those to-the-limit wins.
And outside of Seth Jarvis beating Dobes just 33 seconds in, the Canadiens answered that question resoundingly in those opening minutes to extend Carolina’s misery in this round. Much of Carolina’s success comes from pressuring opponents in the offensive zone and minimizing chances going the other way. But Montreal effectively moved the puck out of danger against Carolina’s aggressive pressure early, setting up clean breakouts and multiple breakaway chances at Frederik Andersen.
Danault’s goal was a full-speed breakaway right up the middle off a feed from Alexandre Carrier, while Demidov went forehand-backhand-forehand to beat Andersen for the 4-1 lead with 8:28 left in the first. Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, which is in the Eastern final for the third time in four years and fourth time in the current eight-season playoff run under Rod Brind’Amour.
But the Hurricanes are now 1-13 in those games, including sweeps against Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023.
Hockey Montreal Canadiens Carolina Hurricanes Eastern Conference Final Playoff Series First Loss Opening Minutes Frisbee Returns Breakaway Chances Ivan Demidov Seth Jarvis Frederik Andersen Russell Draper Kolby Evans Frederik Andersen Seth Jarvis Russell Draper
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