The Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens stand across from each other, representing their respective divisions, and vying for the Eastern Conference's spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. The Canadiens have the hopes of an entire country on their backs, trying to win Canada's first Stanley Cup in over 30 years. The Hurricanes have conference finals demons they need to exercise.
As we've done for the previous two rounds, below are five keys for the Hurricanes during this upcoming battle against the Canadiens. With the long layoff for the Canes, the start of the conference finals will be just as much about the mental side of things as the physical side. This is their toughest test yet. The path to the next round isn't an easy one.
1. For the love of all that is good, stay out of the penalty box
On one side, the Canadiens are the most penalized team in the postseason. They've been short-handed 54 times, 12 more than any other team, and their penalty kill is the fourth-worst at 74.1 percent. On the other side, the Hurricanes have been short-handed more per game than any team, averaging 8:32 per contest a man down. Their kill is second-best at 95 percent.
The biggest battle in the series will be Montreal's top power play against Carolina's penalty kill. All but one of Montreal's 13 power-play goals have come from their top unit. That's where their top line has been dangerous. Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, and Nick Suzuki have combined for seven points at even strength, and most of that is Suzuki's doing. Meanwhile, they have 24 points on the power play.
2. The center position will be the key to this series
We could talk for days about the importance of the Canes' top line against the Habs' top line, and while it's an important matchup, I'm more interested in the complete battle down the middle at center. The Canes have four set guys they'll use, while Montreal has shifted its centers around throughout the playoffs behind Nick Suzuki, Jake Evans, and Phillip Danault.
Aho vs. Suzuki will be a big-time battle, but the duel in the middle-six, pitting Stankoven and Staal against Evans and Danault, might be where the series is won. Montreal has gotten more from its centers this postseason. Evans had a point streak snapped on Monday, Danault scored the opening goal in Game 7, and Suzuki can't stop collecting points.
3. Carolina's rest vs. Montreal's long road
The Hurricanes have made quick work of both opponents. After the first round, they had to wait a week before they began the second round. Now, they've waited nearly two weeks to learn who their next opponent would be. They've practiced a lot during that time, but no practice scenario mimics the atmosphere of playoff hockey.
The Canadiens are on the opposite side of the spectrum. In both of their series, they've gone the distance, winning a pair of Game 7s on the road. They've played five games since the Canes played Game 4 against the Flyers. Their second-round series was almost as many games as the Canes have played this postseason. With only two days between games, they haven't gotten much rest.
4. Can the Hurricanes solve their Dobes problem?
During the regular season, the Hurricanes didn't beat the Canadiens. In all three games, Jakub Dobes was the goalie for Montreal. On New Year's Day, the teams combined for 12 goals in a 7-5 Montreal win. Dobes didn't play a great game, but he stopped 30 shots and got the win. When they met again in March, Dobes was incredible, making 75 stops on 78 shots in both games combined.
Both March encounters played the same way. The Canes scored early to take the lead, Dobes stood on his head the rest of the way, and the Canadiens secured multi-goal wins. In both losses, Frederik Andersen faced 18 shots, and he allowed seven goals. Dobes has faltered at times during the playoffs, but he has been big in key spots to keep the Canadiens in the hunt.
5. Mind over matter when it comes to recent failures
By all accounts, this Hurricanes team is as mentally tough as it gets, and their head coach will have them more than prepared to fight. Their recent history in conference finals is very hard to ignore, and it's something that will be brought up a ton throughout the series. I don't think the outside noise will affect them. Besides, they'll have their hands full enough on the ice with the Canadiens.
It's crazy to think that the Canadiens have made a Stanley Cup Final appearance more recently than the Canes. Montreal lost in five games to the Lightning in 2021. Six players on their current roster were on that team, including Suzuki, Caufield, Evans, and Danault. They also have a Stanley Cup champion in Alex Newhook. Some of the Habs have been there. The Canes want to experience that.
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