Bonkers stat from Game 1 demolition of the Hurricanes proves Canadiens are for real

The Carolina Hurricanes entered the Eastern Conference Final unbeaten in the 2026 playoffs, but their 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 exposed defensive issues that had not appeared through the opening two rounds.

Carolina had swept both the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers to begin the postseason 8-0, becoming the first NHL team since 1987 to sweep its first two playoff rounds under the current format. That success also created an 11-day layoff before the conference final, the longest postseason break for a team since at least 1920.

It looked as if the Hurricanes were posied for another comfortable victory when Seth Jarvis scored just 33 seconds into the opening period off a setup from Andrei Svechnikov. However, Montreal answered 27 seconds later as Cole Caufield finished a chance created by Juraj Slafkovsky to tie the game 1-1.

From there, the Canadiens overwhelmed Carolina’s normally reliable defensive structure. Phillip Danault scored on a breakaway at 4:04, Alexandre Texier added another at 8:11, and Ivan Demidov converted a breakaway midway through the first period to give Montreal a stunning 4-1 lead.

After allowing just five goals in each of their first two playoff series and no more than two in any playoff game, the Hurricanes were torched for four first-period goals by the Canadiens and six overall.

Montreal repeatedly beat Carolina’s aggressive pressure with clean exits and open-ice rushes. Defensive miscues, failed pinches, and missed coverage contributed to a minus-4 night for defenseman Jaccob Slavin, the worst playoff rating of his career. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said he had “never seen that” from Slavin in eight years.

Frederik Andersen, who entered Game 1 leading the postseason with a 1.12 goals-against average and .950 save percentage, surrendered five goals on 21 shots and finished with 16 saves after allowing just 10 goals in his first eight playoff starts.

The Hurricanes responded in the second period when Eric Robinson scored on a partial breakaway after a William Carrier feed, and Carolina outshot the Canadiens 11-3 in the frame. But they managed only two shots on goal in the third period while Slafkovsky scored twice, including an empty-net goal, to finish the 6-2 win.

Carolina is now 1-13 in Eastern Conference Final games during Brind’Amour’s tenure. The Hurricanes will look to turn things around in Game 2 on Saturday night.

The post Bonkers stat from Game 1 demolition of the Hurricanes proves Canadiens are for real appeared first on ClutchPoints.