The Montreal Canadiens stunned the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1, winning 6-2. Tonight was the first loss of the postseason for the Hurricanes, who swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in the first two rounds.
The Hurricanes jumped out to a 1-0 lead only 33 seconds in, courtesy of Seth Jarvis. The forecheck of Sebastian Aho was too much for Alex Newhook to handle – the exact sort of aggressive play that the Hurricanes have built their success on all season long.
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The lead was uncharacteristically short-lived for the Hurricanes, with Cole Caufield tying the game less than a minute after the Jarvis tally. The Jarvis line got caught out of position after overextending on the forecheck, which would quickly become a trend on the night.
It was an important goal for Caufield, who had only scored one goal at even strength coming into tonight. His line’s ability to generate offense at 5-on-5 will be crucial against the league’s best defensive team.
Three minutes later, the Hurricanes’ forecheck was exposed again. Shayne Gostisbehere and Jarvis carelessly pinched in the neutral zone, leaving Phillip Danault all alone on the breakaway, giving Montreal a 2-1 lead.
The defensive coverage seemed off for the Hurricanes, who haven’t played in 12 days after sweeping the Flyers.
Alexandre Texier made it 3-1 off a turnover by Jalen Chatfield, the first time the Hurricanes allowed three goals in a game this postseason.
It took the Canadiens less than 10 minutes to break the impressive streak.
The quick transition play of the Canadiens burned the aggressive Hurricanes’ structure for the fourth time as Ivan Demidov went backhand-forehand to make it 4-1.
Eric Robinson cut the lead to two early in the second after Caufield failed to capitalize on a breakaway.
The Canadiens showed their inexperience in the second, sitting back defensively and allowing the Hurricanes to regain momentum. Rookie phenom Jakub Dobeš stood tall with the Canadiens being outshot 11-3 in the second, keeping it a two-goal game heading into the third.
Juraj Slafkovský put the game out of reach with his fifth of the postseason. The 22-year-old made a nifty move on Andrei Svechnikov before tucking it past Frederik Andersen.
Slafkovský potted an empty-netter to make it 6-2.
The Hurricanes registered a single shot in the third after a dominant second period.
It was a particularly rough game for Jaccob Slavin, who recorded a -4 for the first time since April 2025.
Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals is on Saturday, as the Hurricanes look to tie the series at one.
