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The Montreal Canadiens could go home with a commanding lead in the NHL’s Eastern Conference final if they win Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2.
The battle-tested Canadiens beat the well-rested Hurricanes 6-2 in the series opener Wednesday in Raleigh.
It was the first loss of these playoffs for the Hurricanes, who returned from an 11-day layoff Wednesday after sweeping their way through the first two rounds.
Montreal, meanwhile, survived a pair of tough seven-game series that saw their top forwards shut down at even strength.
That changed in Game 1 of the conference final, when Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky combined for six even-strength points.
After tonight, the series will shift to the raucous Bell Centre in Montreal for Game 3 on Monday.
During Games 6 and 7 of the playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, the energy and roars from Montreal Canadiens fans after goals were so intense that they possibly registered as seismic activity comparable to a 0.5-magnitude earthquake.
