Carolina Hurricanes 6, Montreal Canadiens 1. Eastern Conference Finals, Game 5. PNC Arena, Raleigh. Carolina wins series 4-1, advances to face Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final.
Carolina just took Montreal out in five games. Game 5 was no different than Games 2 through 4. The Hurricanes imposed their will and forced Montreal to play a game they did not want to play. Montreal's season can be looked at as a success, but getting this close still hurts. You never know when you will be back in the Conference Final with a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. The Atlantic is going to be a hard division to escape for years, with Ottawa, Buffalo and Montreal all building young, skilled cores. Carolina is square in its Stanley Cup window and has dominated every team it has played. At 12-1 through three rounds, they have earned rest, respect, and wins. Nothing beats that combo at Cup time.
The Game
This one was over after 40 minutes. Carolina built a 5-0 lead through two periods, dominated the puck, forced Montreal into bad penalties, and got a huge night from Frederik Andersen when called upon. The Hurricanes' power play got one too, which might have been the only part of their game still searching for traction. Montreal found some legs late, but they did not have anything left in the tank.
For most of the night they looked like a frustrated young team. The look of defeat was on their faces inside the first 15 minutes. It is the tell of a young roster, and something to watch going into next season. You do not see Cup-caliber teams give up that early (see Colorado and Vegas earlier this spring).
On to Vegas
Vegas vs Carolina is the matchup I have wanted to see. Technical hockey on both ends, but real skill when it comes to finishing. Both teams play hard in the defensive zone and the neutral zone. This series will be won on the walls, and whichever team wants the 50/50 pucks more is going to take it. Mark Stone being healthy is a huge piece for Vegas. The other thing I am watching is how hard the Knights forecheck Miller and Slavin. If Jack Eichel can get pucks in deep for Ivan Barbashev, Vegas will try to wear that defensive core down over a long series.
The Line Matchups
The Blake-Stankoven-Hall line is one of the best in the playoffs. They just walked right over a Selke nominee in Nick Suzuki, and now I expect them matched up against Mitch Marner. That matchup is the key to the series. If Marner can take Carolina's second line out of it and still produce on the other end, Vegas is in great shape. If Stankoven's line forces Tortorella to adjust, Carolina could run away with this one.
Goalie Battle
This is also a battle of the two best goalies in the playoffs. Both are coming in off heaters from the Conference Finals. Andersen has been at 1.41 goals against per game and a .931 save percentage. Carter Hart has been at 2.22 goals against and .924. The series will come down to who can take the goalies' eyes away. Expect a lot of traffic goals, and rebound control is going to be a key. This is going to be one heck of a series. Would love to see these two go seven.
Compare Andersen and Hart on HighDanger →
Cup Final by the numbers
The series so far
- Game 1 (May 21): Habs 6, Hurricanes 2. Montreal Weathers the Storm.
- Game 2 (May 23): Hurricanes 3, Habs 2 (OT). Hurricanes Strike Back, Series Tied.
- Game 3 (May 25): Hurricanes 3, Habs 2 (OT). One Bad Pass, Carolina Up 2-1.
- Game 4 (May 27): Hurricanes 4, Habs 0. Carolina Routs Montreal at Home, Up 3-1.
- Game 5 (May 29): Hurricanes 6, Habs 1. Carolina dominates to reach the Cup Final.