Hurricanes to face Canadiens in East final

The NHL set the Eastern Conference final on May 19, with the Carolina Hurricanes drawing the Montreal Canadiens after the Canadiens finished off the Buffalo Sabres in overtime a night earlier. Carolina had been waiting since May 9 after sweeping its first two playoff rounds, while Montreal arrived through a longer path that included a Game 7 win over Buffalo. The series opens in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Hurricanes have home-ice advantage as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, according to the league. ### How did this matchup come together? Montreal clinched the second berth on May 18 with a 3-2 overtime victory over Buffalo, sending the Canadiens into the conference final as the No. 3 seed from the Atlantic Division. Carolina had already secured its place by sweeping the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, becoming the first team to open a postseason 8-0 since the NHL adopted best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987, according to NHL.com. (nhl.com) The Hurricanes are in the Eastern Conference final for the third time in four seasons, while the Canadiens reached the round after surviving two Game 7s in the first two rounds, NHL.com said. Those opposite routes left Carolina with a long break and Montreal with a shorter turnaround before the series opener. ### Why does Carolina have home ice? Carolina finished as the No. 1 seed from the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference, giving it home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series against Montreal, the No. 3 seed from the Atlantic Division, NHL.com said. (nhl.com) The opener and a potential Game 2 are set for Lenovo Center in Raleigh. (nhl.com) The Hurricanes' team site said the NHL confirmed the conference-final schedule on May 18, with Carolina opening at home before the series shifts to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. A potential Game 7 would also be in Raleigh. ### What has been said about the matchup? Josh Anderson told NHL.com that Carolina is "a really good team" and said the Hurricanes are "fast" and "quick" as Montreal prepared for the series. (nhl.com) Anderson said Carolina's style would resemble what the Canadiens had just seen from Buffalo, with a game built on puck movement and transition. (nhl.com) NHL.com said the two clubs reached the conference final by "following opposite paths" through the first two rounds, with Carolina advancing on rest and Montreal arriving after a heavier workload. That contrast was also reflected in ESPN's preview, which noted Carolina had not played since May 9 while Montreal advanced Monday. (nhl.com) ### What is the schedule from here? Game 1 is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in Raleigh, according to NHL.com and the Hurricanes' team site. Daily Faceoff reported that the league had released the conference-final dates, with exact matchup details settling once Montreal advanced. The best-of-seven series will continue with Carolina and Montreal playing for a place in the Stanley Cup Final, while the Western Conference final features the Colorado Avalanche against the Vegas Golden Knights, according to Daily Faceoff. (nhl.com) The NHL's series coverage page is carrying the Eastern final schedule and updates as the matchup begins. (dailyfaceoff.com) (nhl.com)