2026 Eastern Conference Final preview: Canadiens vs. Hurricanes

The two clubs set to collide in the Eastern Conference Final arrived via opposite paths. 

The Carolina Hurricanes come to Game 1 of Round 3 with a flawless record. Rod Brind’Amour’s squad has won eight straight games, swept two straight series, to book their ticket to the third round. So dominant were they in Round 2, they haven’t even played a hockey game in over a week, having closed out their last series way back on May 9.

The only club in NHL history to sweep their first two best-of-seven series to start a post-season, the Canes have gotten a little bit of everything to this point — offence from all corners of the lineup, stout defence from the blue line, sterling goaltending from Frederik Andersen.

Twice they’ve come up against a rambunctious, talented squad with plenty of youth and promise, and twice they’ve snuffed them out with ease. Now, another young, up-and-coming outfit arrives on their doorstep.

The Montreal Canadiens, fresh off a second straight seven-game battle, have climbed to the conference final for the first time since their Stanley Cup Final march in 2021. Whatever happens now, the campaign has been a significant step forward for this young Habs core, which is quickly emerging as one of the most dangerous in the league. But Martin St. Louis’ group will be looking for more than just a pat on the back for having made it this far. 

The Canadiens beat these Canes in all three meetings this season, outscoring them 15-8 over those tilts. The chances of them doing that here, given how the Canes have looked to this point, and given how Andersen’s performed through two rounds, seem slim. But the Habs have the firepower to make some noise.

Can they slow down a Carolina squad that’s been barrelling through the East like a runaway train? Or will the Canes finally pull it all together and reach their first Stanley Cup Final since they won it all two decades ago?

Game 1 goes Thursday.

Head-to-head records

Hurricanes: 0-3-0
Canadiens: 3-0-0

Playoff Team Stats

Hurricanes’ Key Playoff Moment: Andersen’s pair of Game 1 shutouts

Andersen has been flat-out dominant to start this post-season run. Through two series, the 36-year-old has posted an absurd .950 save percentage, allowing just 10 goals over the Canes’ eight wins. But it’s how he started each of Carolina’s series that stands out most.

In each of the two previous rounds, the Hurricanes entered Game 1 against a young, hungry team with plenty of momentum. And both times, Andersen kicked things off by shutting the door, stymying the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers at every turn, bringing that momentum to a grinding halt.

The Great Dane’s sterling start allowed Carolina to set the tone, and send a message, putting the club’s more inexperienced opponents on their heels early. They’ll no doubt be looking to do the same against the young Habs.

Canadiens’ Key Playoff Moment: Habs’ offence comes alive in Game 2

After an incredibly tight series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1 — a seven-game grind that saw four games decided by overtime, and all seven tilts decided by one goal — the Canadiens began Round 2 with another nail-biter against Buffalo. But in Game 2, Montreal came alive.

A 5-1 win over the Sabres saw the Habs claim their most dominant win of the post-season to that point. Two nights later, they did it again, winning 6-2 in Game 3. The Sabres fought back with a narrow win in Game 4, until Montreal again kicked down the door with a 6-3 victory in Game 5, and battled through a difficult final stretch to close out the series in seven.

In the games following that Game 2 revival, Montreal saw some key offensive stalwarts rediscover their scoring touch — most notably 50-goal man Cole Caufield, who found the twine in three straight following Game 2, after managing just one through his first nine games of this post-season. A good sign heading into a tough bout with the Canes that will require No. 13’s best.

Hurricanes will win if…

The Canes will continue their campaign of destiny if their second line continues to dominate as they have so far.

Through two rounds, the trio of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake have been unstoppable for Brind’Amour’s squad. In Round 1, the line combined for 16 points against the Senators — Hall led the way with two goals and seven points overall, Stankoven added four goals and five points, and Blake managed a goal and four points himself. In Round 2, they held that level. The line put up 15 points against Philly — Blake led this time with three goals and seven points overall, with Hall adding a goal and five points, and Stankoven put up three goals.

With 31 points between the three of them heading into the conference final, the Habs’ defence figures to have their hands full with the second-line trio — and then there’s Carolina’s star-laden top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis to deal with.

Canadiens will win if…

Montreal will keep rolling if Jakub Dobes continues his run in the Habs’ cage, and matches Andersen’s elite form.

The 24-year-old Dobes has been a revelation for Montreal this season, particularly in these playoffs. Playing just his second campaign in the big leagues — his first in a starring role — the 2020 fifth-round pick has emerged as a key piece of the Canadiens’ core. He put up a dominant .923 save percentage in Round 1, holding the offensively gifted Bolts to three goals or fewer over the seven-game series. And while there were some stumbles in Round 2, Dobes came up clutch when it mattered most, turning aside 37 shots and limiting the Sabres to two goals in Montreal’s do-or-die Game 7 win.

It’s simply what Dobes has been doing all year in Montreal, and all playoffs, too. He’s been especially exceptional when his team’s needed to claw its way back after a loss — overall through this season (regular and post), he’s 19-2-2 after a loss. In these playoffs so far, Dobes is a perfect 6-0 coming off a loss.

Against a Canes team that ranked as the second-best offensive outfit in the league this season, the Habs will need No. 75 to continue that run of form.

Carolina's Unsung Hero: K’Andre Miller

In his first season with Carolina, the 26-year-old blue-liner has been excellent for the Canes. Coming over from New York after a five-season run with the Rangers, the fit seemed fairly seamless during the regular season — Miller managed one of the most productive campaigns of his career under Brind’Amour, accumulating 37 points in 72 games, and skating a career-high 22:24 per night.

But in the post-season, he’s raised his game even further. Round 2 saw the St. Paul, Minn., product skate a team-high 23:58 against Philadelphia, and come up with some incredible defensive moments for his club:

Overall, heading into the conference final, Miller ranks second on the team in ice-time with 23:44 minutes per night through eight Canes wins — behind only all-world rearguard Jaccob Slavin — and leads all Canes blue-liners in scoring.

Montreal's Unsung Hero: Alex Newhook

Newhook pulled the spotlight towards him in the final moments of Round 2, wiring home the game-winning, series-clinching goal to send Montreal on to the conference final. But the 25-year-old has been doing it all playoffs for the Habs.

Montreal has no shortage of quality performers to heap praise on for their run so far, with star-studded leaders Nick Suzuki, Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson all making waves, and Dobes earning plenty of praise in the cage behind them. But Newhook has been just as pivotal. 

Through two rounds, the former Colorado Avalanche winger is leading Montreal in goals with seven, and leading the league in even-strength goals in these playoffs. He’s also been incredibly clutch during two series that have gone the distance — in Game 7 against Tampa Bay, he scored the game-winner midway through the final period of the series; in Game 7 against Buffalo, he sunk the overtime winner.

Newhook had just two goals in 32 playoff games heading into this run, but the St. John's product has found his footing, and found an important role, for these meteoric Habs.

Series Schedule
* all games available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

Game 1: Montreal at Carolina, Thurs. May 21 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Game 2: Montreal at Carolina, Sat. May 23 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Game 3: Carolina at Montreal, Mon. May 25 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Game 4: Carolina at Montreal, Wed. May 27 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
*Game 5: Montreal at Carolina, Fri. May 29 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
*Game 6: Carolina at Montreal, Sun. May 31 at TBD
*Game 7: Montreal at Carolina, Tues. June 2 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT