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The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes will collide in the Eastern Conference final after very different journeys through the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Montreal’s young team fought through two tough seven-game series to reach this point. Meanwhile, Carolina’s experienced squad swept the first two rounds with disciplined, stingy defense.
It’s the maximum number of games versus the minimum. Here are five key things to watch as Game 1 heads to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday night.
Rest versus rust could be a factor. The Hurricanes haven’t played since sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers on May 9, giving them an 11-day layoff—one of the longest breaks between series in over 100 years. The Canadiens had a shorter break before their Game 7 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on May 19.
Is that a blessing or a curse? Carolina, which finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference, managed a six-day break after sweeping Ottawa in the first round and came out flawless with four straight wins against Philadelphia. The Hurricanes are the first team since the NHL adopted four rounds of best-of-seven in 1987 to start the playoffs 8-0.
Montreal, meanwhile, beat divisional rival Tampa Bay and Buffalo in grueling contests, becoming the first team since the 2014 Los Angeles Kings to win Game 7 matchups in both opening rounds.
When it comes to star production, neither team’s top lines have been lighting up the scoreboard as usual. Carolina’s Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov have combined for just five goals and 11 points in eight games.
Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky have collected 31 points over 14 games, but only three goals were scored at even strength. Their line has spent considerable time defending in their own zone. Notably, Caufield, who scored 51 goals this season, and Slafkovsky each have only one even-strength point.
However, the Canadiens’ top trio found success against Carolina in the regular season, scoring eight goals over three games while sweeping the Hurricanes with a 15-8 aggregate.
Secondary players have stepped up for both squads. Carolina’s second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Jackson Blake combined for 14 goals in eight games, with Stankoven netting seven himself.
Alex Newhook has been a standout for Montreal. The 25-year-old from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, has scored seven even-strength goals over the past eight games, including the game-winning goals in both of Montreal’s Game 7 wins. Other contributors for the Canadiens include Kirby Dach (four goals), Josh Anderson (three), and Alexandre Texier (three).
In the crease, rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš has stolen the spotlight for Montreal, much like Jaroslav Halak did in 2010. The 24-year-old from Czechia boasts a .910 save percentage and a 2.52 goals-against average. His clutch 28- and 37-save performances helped the Canadiens in both Game 7 victories. Dobeš became the second rookie goalie in NHL history to post multiple road Game 7 wins in a single postseason, joining Canadiens legend Ken Dryden from 1971.
For the Hurricanes, veteran Frederik Andersen has quelled concerns with a stellar performance. The 36-year-old Danish goalie leads the playoffs with a .950 save percentage and a 1.12 goals-against average. His success benefits from Carolina’s puck possession and ability to limit dangerous scoring chances. Still, questions remain about his ability to sustain this form given his regular-season numbers of a .874 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average.
Special teams could be pivotal. Montreal’s power play operates at 25 percent, facing off against Carolina’s penalty kill, which has allowed just two goals on 40 chances (95 percent) during the first two rounds. On the flip side, Carolina’s power play has struggled at 13.5 percent, while Montreal’s penalty kill is at 74.1 percent, both ranking last among the remaining four teams.
This postseason marks the third time Carolina and Montreal meet since the Hurricanes moved from Hartford. Carolina won the previous playoff matchups in 2002 and 2006. The Hurricanes aim to reach the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 2006, making their fourth conference final appearance in eight seasons.
