Field Level Media
22 May 2026, 08:49 GMT+10
(Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images)
Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice in a three-point outing as the visiting Montreal Canadiens rode a four-goal first period to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 Thursday in Raleigh, N.C., in the opening clash of the Eastern Conference finals.
Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault both scored once and added an assist, while Alexandre Texier and Ivan Demidov netted goals for the Canadiens, who have won seven of nine road games during the playoffs.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes made 25 saves, and Nick Suzuki collected three assists.
Seth Jarvis and Eric Robinson scored for the Hurricanes, who lost for the first time in this year's playoffs. Carolina has lost seven straight conference final openers and won only once in its last 17 conference final clashes.
Goalie Frederik Andersen stopped 16 shots. He had not surrendered more than two goals in any of the previous outings this spring.
Carolina not only swept their opposition in each of the first two rounds, but surrendered only five goals in total in each of those series.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be on Saturday.
The affair kicked off with the clubs trading goals in the first minute. Jarvis put the Hurricanes on the board 33 seconds after the drop of the puck with a quick shot from the right circle, but Caufield replied at the one-minute mark when he buried an open chance from the slot.
Then it became even wilder. Danault put Montreal ahead with a breakaway at 4:04 during 4-on-4 play, and Texier made it a 3-1 game with a one-timer from the slot four minutes later.
Demidov netted Montreal's fourth goal of the opening frame with another breakaway goal that had the Hurricanes and their faithful stunned.
Robinson provided the Hurricanes a much-needed jolt when he made it a 4-2 game by finishing a partial breakaway at 2:46 of the second period.
However, Slafkovsky restored Montreal's three-goal edge at 7:05 of the third period when he used a toe-drag to elude a defender and tucked home a shot.
Slafkovsky's empty-net goal rounded out the scoring.
The Hurricanes managed only one third-period shot on goal.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Sports Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Sports Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images) Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice in a three-point outing as the visiting Montreal Canadiens...
(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images) Josh Hart bounced back from a quiet series opener by scoring nine of the New York...
(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images) Rookie Spencer Miles pitched a career-high 4 1/3 innings in his role as a bulk reliever...
(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images) Rookie Spencer Miles pitched a career-high 4 1/3 innings in his role as a bulk reliever...
(Photo credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Patrick Bailey had a solo homer while Brayan Rocchio had three hits,...
(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) Michael Harris II hit two home runs and Mike Yastrzemski broke out of a slump with a homer...
(Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) The New York Giants signed general manager Joe Schoen to a multiyear contract extension on...
(Photo credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images) The Los Angeles Rams signed quarterback Matthew Stafford to a one-year extension on Thursday,...
(Photo credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images) New York Giants coach John Harbaugh said Thursday that the goal is for star wide receiver...
(Photo credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images) All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell agreed to terms on a contract extension with the Detroit...
(Photo credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images) Former wide receiver Collin Johnson announced Thursday that he is retiring from the NFL...
(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images) The Minnesota Vikings signed defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk to a contract on...
