Carolina evens series 1-1 with 3-2 OT win

The Carolina Hurricanes tied the Eastern Conference final at one game apiece on Saturday with a 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Raleigh, N.C. Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice, including the winner 3:29 into overtime at Lenovo Center, after Carolina lost Game 1 at home two nights earlier. Josh Anderson scored both Montreal goals, including the equalizer midway through the third period. The best-of-seven series now shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Monday. ### How did Carolina finish it after letting the lead slip? Nikolaj Ehlers ended the game at 3:29 of overtime when he took a pass from Mark Jankowski on the rush and beat Jakub Dobes from the slot, according to NHL.com. Jalen Chatfield started the sequence by knocking down a Montreal chip-in attempt and moving the puck out to Jankowski. Ehlers told NHL.com it was “a great pass” from Jankowski and said he tried to get the puck off his stick quickly to surprise the goalie. The goal gave Carolina the response it needed after Anderson forced overtime for Montreal at 12:51 of the third period. ### Who drove the scoring before overtime? Eric Robinson gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 2:33 of the first period by redirecting William Carrier’s shot past Dobes, NHL.com said. (nhl.com) Montreal tied it at 11:11 of the first when Kaiden Guhle intercepted Taylor Hall’s clearing attempt, Phillip Danault moved the puck along, and Anderson’s shot deflected in off Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Ehlers restored Carolina’s lead at 17:03 of the second period with what NHL.com described as an individual effort. Anderson then scored again in front of Frederik Andersen midway through the third to make it 2-2 and send the game to overtime. ### What did the coaches say changed from Game 1? Rod Brind’Amour said Carolina was better aligned with its game after Montreal’s 6-2 win in Game 1 on Thursday. “There was a lot to be better at. (nhl.com) We were better obviously,” the Hurricanes coach told NHL.com. “For the most part of the game, I thought we were pretty in sync with what we needed to do and it showed.” Martin St. Louis said Montreal’s execution was below its standard but not far off in a game he described as close throughout. “Overall, I thought it was a battle out there. I thought we competed,” the Canadiens coach told NHL.com. “It’s a close game. It’s a fine line between winning and losing.” ### Which numbers stood out in Game 2? (nhl.com) Frederik Andersen made 10 saves for Carolina, while Dobes stopped 23 shots for Montreal, NHL.com said. Chatfield and Jankowski each had two assists for the Hurricanes, and Danault had two assists for the Canadiens. Fox Sports listed Ehlers with two goals and five shots, Anderson with two goals, and the final scoring by period as 1-1 after the first, 2-1 Carolina after the second and 2-2 after regulation. (nhl.com) The game was played at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. ### What happens next as the series moves to Montreal? (nhl.com) The NHL’s playoff schedule lists Game 3 for Monday, May 25, in Montreal at 8 p.m. ET, with Game 4 set for Wednesday, May 27, also in Montreal. The series returns to Raleigh for Game 5 on Friday, May 29, if needed beyond that point. NHL.com’s conference finals schedule said the Eastern series is tied 1-1 after Montreal’s Game 1 win and Carolina’s Game 2 overtime response. (foxsports.com) The same page also carries the rolling results and dates for the Western Conference final. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2)