Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes : Preview of Game 4 of the third round

Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes : Huge game for the Canadiens

This Eastern Conference final in the NHL now shifts to Montreal, with the Canadiens back at the Bell Centre and holding home-ice advantage. It could have been a different story, though, after Carolina edged the last meeting 3 to 2 in overtime. So the Habs are level in the series and need to pile up wins in these next two games. Time to break down the stakes and the form guide.

Montreal Canadiens : The heist was nearly perfect

Suzuki and his team come home with the good news of having taken the opening game, but they also had the chance to leave with a killer scoreline. They were undone by a Kapanen mistake, after a game that was the complete opposite of the series opener. Sit back, absorb the pressure, take the hits from Carolina, then strike when fatigue kicks in. The third line was productive, with Danault and Anderson both collecting two points, while Anderson bagged a brace.

That helps cover for the lack of scoring from the Canadiens’ top two lines, who now need to break through a Hurricanes defence that is starting to find itself again. They can also lean on goaltender Jakub Dobes, who has been superb in the playoffs and, if he keeps hovering above a .900 save percentage, will give them a real shot at victory.

Carolina Hurricanes : Win to take back home-ice advantage

Bouncing back from the opening loss had all the feel of an ultimatum for the Hurricanes, who were caught cold by the Canadian offensive explosion and conceded four goals in one period. The 11-day break looked destined to get the legs firing again. That was the case in the second game against the Canadiens, when the regular-season Eastern Conference winners looked like themselves again and went back to basics: 40 hits, pressure, and plenty of muscle.

The first line was back, with defenseman Chatfield chipping in for two points. But it was also on the third line that a player eager to make his mark really stepped up: Niklaj Ehlers justified his move from the Jets with a brace, including the winner. The mission is crystal clear. Do not let the Canadiens drag this into chaos in front of their own crowd, which has been the loudest and most dangerous in the playoffs so far.

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NHL prediction Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes

Over 5.5 goals (including overtime)

Back at the Bell Centre, expect things to get wild. The Canes, led by Aho, are the clear favourites, but they still have to deal with the Canadiens’ current offensive firepower and depth. There should be more shots in this one, too. Martin Saint-Louis’s men know by now that trying to play like a defensive team will not work in this series. They need to put more pucks toward Andersen, and that should open up space at both ends.

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