Heading into the Stanley Cup Conference Finals, the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche looked like the clear teams to beat. After Game 1 of both series, though, that expected Stanley Cup Final matchup already feels less certain.
In the Eastern Conference Final, Carolina lost 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens on home ice. It was one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 postseason, especially with the Hurricanes entering the series unbeaten through their first eight playoff games.
The opener was a mess for Rod Brind’Amour’s squad defensively, including Frederik Andersen, who allowed five one-on-one chances to end up in the net.
It wasn’t all on the goaltender, though.
The Hurricanes came out with energy, striking early on a Seth Jarvis goal, but the back end never matched that start. Montreal kept finding space, Carolina never settled in, and by the third period, any realistic comeback had disappeared.
Cole Caufield made things even harder. He was dangerous from the start, scoring once and adding an early assist to help Montreal seize control.
Carolina also had 12 days off before this matchup began, and that layoff may have shown. The Hurricanes looked rusty, while the Canadiens grabbed the kind of momentum that can quickly change a series.
How Can Carolina Respond?
There is no question the Hurricanes know how to dominate high-level playoff hockey. But as Brind’Amour said after the loss, they were not ready for Montreal’s pace.
Carolina’s forwards opened with purpose, but the defense struggled badly against the Canadiens’ speed through the neutral zone. Montreal’s quick transitions created repeated breakdowns, and the Hurricanes spent too much of the night chasing.
By the middle of the game, even Carolina’s attack had lost its rhythm. Scoring chances went unfinished, puck management got sloppy, and Montreal kept turning mistakes into dangerous rushes.
The answer is not as simple as saying Carolina needs to “play its game.” The Hurricanes have to adjust to Montreal’s speed, clean up their reads, and stop giving the Canadiens clean looks in space.
Most importantly, Carolina has to limit those breakaways. Montreal punished every lapse in Game 1, and if the Hurricanes keep allowing those chances, this series can get away from them.
The offense also has to finish more of what it creates. Sebastian Aho should not be held quiet for an entire playoff game, and chances are he will be more involved in Game 2.
With home ice again, the Canes get an immediate opportunity to reset in front of its own crowd. This has been the most successful team of this postseason for a reason. Now they have to show they can answer their first real punch.
How Can Montreal Keep Control?
Montreal won Game 1 by turning defense into instant offense. The Canadiens blended pressure, speed, and finishing touch better than their opponent could handle.
That result should not be dismissed as a fluke, either. Montreal beat the Hurricanes three times during the regular season, and now has four wins against them this year.
Jordan Staal admitted afterward that Carolina did not give the Canadiens the respect they deserved entering the opener. That cannot happen again, which means Montreal may not catch the Hurricanes off guard in quite the same way.
But the Canadiens do not need to rely on surprise alone.
They have played Carolina well all season, and their formula is clear: force turnovers, attack aggressively, and make the Hurricanes defend in uncomfortable spots. If Montreal keeps creating odd-man rushes and finishing chances with the same confidence it showed in Game 1, they will be hard to beat.
The Canadiens will also have home ice starting in Game 3. If they can steal another one in Raleigh and Jakub Dobes continues to stand tall in net, Montreal could take control before the series ever gets back to Raleigh.
Prediction
Game 1 was shocking because of how thoroughly Montreal controlled the night. Carolina did not just lose. They looked overwhelmed for long stretches.
Still, this is far from finished.
The Hurricanes have an elite defensive structure, explosive scorers, and enough experience to adjust. Aho, Jarvis, and the rest of Carolina’s top players are unlikely to stay quiet for long.
The bigger question is how the Hurricanes respond to their first setback of the playoffs. They had not been forced into this position before, and Montreal exposed issues that Carolina has to fix quickly.
This feels like a series headed deep. Montreal is skilled, fast, and fearless, and their young players are capable of making this uncomfortable all the way through.
But this still feels a little early for them.
Carolina has the defensive talent to cut off Montreal’s transition plans and with the right adjustments, the boys from Raleigh should be able to regain control before it is too late.
The Prediction: Carolina in 7
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