Canadiens beat Hurricanes in Game 1

The Montreal Canadiens opened the Eastern Conference Final with a 6-2 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, putting the higher-seeded Hurricanes behind for the first time in the series. NHL.com’s game recap said Montreal scored four straight goals in the first period at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., and never gave up control. (nhl.com) The result gave the Canadiens a 1-0 series lead and added to an early conference-finals pattern after Vegas also won Game 1 in the West. The Athletic described the two results as the start of a possible “double upset” storyline with both top seeds under pressure. (nhl.com) ### How did Montreal take control so quickly? Montreal scored four unanswered goals in the first period, NHL.com said, turning the opener into a chase game for Carolina almost immediately. The league’s recap said Juraj Slafkovsky finished with two goals and an assist, while Phillip Danault and Cole Caufield each had a goal and an assist. Nick Suzuki had three assists and Jakub Dobes made 25 saves, according to NHL.com. Carolina got goals from Eric Robinson and Alexander Texier, but the Hurricanes were playing from behind after the opening-period burst. (nhl.com) ### Why does this count as an upset start? Carolina entered the Eastern final as the No. 1 seed from the Metropolitan Division, while Montreal was the No. 3 seed from the Atlantic Division, the NHL’s series page shows. The same NHL coverage said Carolina had not lost in the postseason before Game 1. The Athletic said Montreal’s win, combined with Vegas beating Colorado in the Western Conference Final opener, created a “double upset” setup at the start of the round. (nhl.com) The NHL’s conference-finals schedule shows Montreal leading Carolina 1-0 and Vegas leading Colorado 1-0. ### What does the scoreline say about Carolina’s night? Carolina lost 6-2 despite entering the series with one of the stronger defensive records left in the field, according to the NHL’s series coverage page. That page listed the Hurricanes with 1.78 goals against per game in the playoffs before Game 1, compared with Montreal’s 2.67. (nhl.com) NHL.com said the Hurricanes “want to get back to ‘how we play’ in Game 2” after what it called a first-period hiccup, and that the club remained confident in goaltender Frederik Andersen. The same coverage said Carolina’s effort improved over the final two periods, but the early deficit held. (nhl.com) ### Who were the key Montreal contributors? Juraj Slafkovsky was the headline scorer with two goals and an assist in Game 1, NHL.com said. Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault each added a goal and an assist, while Suzuki’s three assists drove Montreal’s top-line production. (nhl.com) Jakub Dobes stopped 25 shots, according to the NHL recap and gamecenter listing. NHL.com’s playoff coverage also highlighted Montreal’s top line and its even-strength production in the opener. ### When is the next game and where is the series headed? (nhl.com) Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, at 7 p.m. ET in Raleigh, according to the NHL’s conference-finals schedule and daily schedule page. The series then shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Monday, May 25, and Game 4 on Wednesday, May 27. The NHL’s schedule lists the Eastern Conference Final as Carolina hosting Games 1 and 2 before Montreal hosts Games 3 and 4. (nhl.com) If necessary, Game 5 would return to Raleigh on May 29, followed by Game 6 in Montreal on May 31 and Game 7 in Raleigh on June 2. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2)