Carolina looked to turn the page after a poor performance in Game 1. Montreal used their speed and quick puck movement to pick apart the Carolina defense, but the Hurricanes' strength is their defensive structure and they needed a bounce-back game. Slavin, who has always been a defensive star for Carolina, was a -4 in Game 1 and really had a tough night. That is something Hurricanes fans rarely see. I am looking at Slavin to have a huge game and regain the defensive posture we are used to seeing from him.
Montreal needs to come out of the gate firing. Game after game we see them start slow and give up the first goal. Their speed torched the over-aggressive defense of Carolina in the first game. If they can keep getting pucks past the Hurricanes' blueline and forecheck hard, they have a good chance to take a 2-0 series lead back to the Bell Centre.
Period One
Once again Montreal finds itself giving up an early first period goal. Carolina was working their forecheck when a point shot from Carrier was redirected by Eric Robinson, beating Dobes early. Just 2:33 into the first, Montreal has to find a way back into the game and quiet the loud Carolina fans.
8:33 into the first period, Stankoven gets called for interference on Kaiden Guhle, sending Montreal's lethal powerplay to work. Carolina's penalty kill is the best in the playoffs, and it showed. They shut down anything Montreal tried to get going, not even allowing a shot on net. Over 11 minutes into the first period and a powerplay later, Montreal still had not registered one shot on goal.
After a poor attempt to clear by Hall, Guhle picks off his pass up the middle and the Montreal forwards go to work. Danault found Anderson in the slot wide open, and he snapped it past Andersen to get Montreal on level terms. That was the Canadiens' first shot on net, and they found the back of it. Montreal might not generate a whole lot of offense, but they are very opportunistic. We end the first period with Carolina outshooting Montreal 7-2, tied at 1-1.
Period Two
Carolina continued to be relentless on Montreal in the defensive zone, allowing nothing into the middle of the ice and forcing pucks to be dumped in. Montreal was also great defensively, keeping the Hurricanes to the outside and limiting the shots from the point.
Midway into the second period, Dobes gets called for an interference play, sending Carolina to the powerplay trying to regain the lead. Carolina possessed the puck for the full 2 minutes in Montreal's end, but Dobes and the box stood tall, resulting in a big kill and a bit of momentum.
One thing that stood out was how much Carolina was taking the body. They are trying to make Montreal feel pain every time they touch the puck. Montreal does not shy away from the physical play, but it might take its toll as this series continues.
After a quick up from Slavin, Carrier found a streaking Ehlers coming into the neutral zone. Ehlers burns wide, putting Hutson and Caufield on their heels. With a little bit of fancy edge work and quick hands, he spins a wrist shot through Dobes' legs, erupting the Lenovo Center into a frenzy. It is now 2-1 Carolina with just 2 minutes left in the second period.
Texier takes a horrible slashing/spearing penalty right at the end of the second. Montreal will start the third period on the penalty kill, shifting more momentum to Carolina. Montreal heads into the third trailing by 1 while getting outshot 15-5.
Period Three
Carolina struggled a bit on the powerplay, and Montreal held the zone. Killing the 2 minutes and shifting gears from defense to offense. Carolina loves to play with a lead. They are very sound at controlling the gap and shutting down rush chances when they are on their game, and they continue to pressure Montreal to dump and chase to eliminate their fast-break offense.
Montreal in the third period is trying more to jam the front of the net and get traffic into Andersen's crease. Halfway into the third, Montreal has now backed off Carolina's defense with their dump-and-chase pressure. This gives Danault more space as he speeds into the neutral zone. Danault finds Anderson trailing him, and Anderson throws it on net. It is a mad scramble for the puck, but Josh Anderson finds it and hammers it home to tie the game up with 7 minutes left in the third.
This game was a defensive battle, and both teams looked content to move Game 2 into overtime. No team was taking any chances and staying on the right side of the puck. Montreal did outshoot Carolina in the third period, but the shots still heavily favoured Carolina, 24-12.
Overtime
Carolina came out flying, controlling most of the play right from the puck drop in the extra frame. They got to the cycle game, trapping Montreal in the defensive zone for the first minute.
Kapanen fails to get the puck into the Hurricanes' zone, resulting in a turnover right at the Carolina blue line. Montreal had poor gap control since they assumed Kapanen would get that puck in deep. A quick up by Chatfield found Jankowski, and he tips it to a flying Nikolaj Ehlers. Ehlers rips a shot from the top of the circles that beats Dobes clean on the low blocker side. That gives Ehlers two on the night and the game winner in overtime.
The takeaway
Series is now tied 1-1, and a great bounce-back game from Carolina. Montreal needs to find a way to get around this Carolina defense, or they will be in trouble. The Canadiens had so much success off the rush in Game 1 and could not find anything in Game 2. Carolina will look to play the same game on the road on Monday.
By the numbers
(OT)
