The Carolina Hurricanes are heading to their third Stanley Cup Final after beating the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final.
The Canadiens failed to adjust to the Hurricanes’ speed, but the series will certainly be a learning experience for a young Montreal squad and head coach Martin St. Louis.
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Taylor Hall opened the scoring halfway through the first, after a power move by Logan Stankoven beat the Canadiens’ defense.
The second line continued its dominance, with Stankoven sniping one past Jakub Dobeš to make it 2-0. Montreal’s defense was no match for the speed of this line yet again, particularly in the defensive zone on the forecheck.
Eric Robinson extended the lead to three on a breakaway courtesy of a lob pass by William Carrier. Mike Matheson misread the play after the puck took a weird bounce on its way to Robinson.
Jackson Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere both scored in the second, putting the game out of reach for Montreal.
Cole Caufield cut the lead to four on the power play, but it wasn’t enough, and the Hurricanes went on to win 6-1.
Carolina has only lost one game on its way to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, with Game 1 on Tuesday in Carolina. It’s the Hurricanes’ first Stanley Cup Final appearance since their lone championship in 2006.
