Canadiens most to blame after being destroyed in East Final by Hurricanes

The Montreal Canadiens had quite a bit of hope after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Those hopes were blooming brightly after the Habs opened the Eastern Conference Finals with a 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening game of the series.

However, the dream of winning their first Stanley Cup since 1993 — some 33 years ago — were doused with cold water as the Hurricanes won the next four games of the series and eliminated the Canadiens. The Habs were overwhelmed in the series by the decisiveness of Carolina’s checking and their ability to win nearly every puck battle.

Those little victories turned into multiple big plays that culminated with overwhelming victories in Games 4 and Game 5. The victorious Hurricanes outscored the Canadiens by a 10-1 margin over the final two games of the series.

Credit for the victory can be spread around to multiple members of the Hurricanes, including resurgent Taylor Hall, energetic Jackson Blake and the overall effectiveness of goalie Freddie Andersen. However, the largest pat on the back must go to head coach Rod Brind’Amour. After seeing his team get eliminated by the Florida Panthers in two of the previous three seasons, Brind’Amour’s team has been prepared every step of the way through the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

On the other hand, Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis had no response once the Hurricanes found their skating legs in Game 2.

The Hurricanes are a team that wins nearly every race and puck battle and plays decisively in its own zone and when attacking. The Hurricanes have dominated the Senators, Flyers and Canadiens, recording a 12-1 postseason record in the process.

Suzuki and Canadiens lost too many puck battles

In the process they have taught all their opponents — and especially the Canadiens — a lesson that they will think about all summer long. It will be up to the team’s stars to absorb those lessons and lead the team next season to a more effective performance.

Montreal’s Nick Suzuki is a legitimate star and a brilliant 200-foot player. He scored 101 points during the regular season, and he regularly urged his teammates to climb on his back and get the benefit of his leadership. There is little doubt that Suzuki plays the game the right way. He has been compared to former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron for the way he plays the game.

However, Suzuki was unable to assert himself against the Hurricanes. Instead of getting to the corner first and gaining possession of the puck, the star center was regularly chasing the play and unable to secure it. He made very few plays to his teammates, largely because he did not have the puck on his stick.

The Habs played 19 postseason games this spring and Suzuki finished with 4 goals and 12 assists. He also finished the postseason with a minus-8 rating. After recording 3 assists in the series opener, Suzuki was held scoreless the rest of the way.

He was completely bottled up by Jaccob Slavin, K’Andre Miller and the Carolina defense.

Hutson unable to launch Habs attack

Lane Hutson is supposed to be the Canadiens’ trigger man when it comes to launching their offense. He is an elite defenseman, comparable to Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild and perhaps just a half-step below a healthy Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.

Hutson is a dynamic puck carrier on the blue line and a player who is capable of taking over the game and reversing momentum if the Habs find themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard.

The Canadiens needed that Hutson to show up at multiple points in the series against the Hurricanes. However, the 22-year-old Hutson just completed his second full season in the league and he could not get the best of the Hurricanes. The relentless forecheck of Brind’Amour’s team kept Hutson hemmed in throughout the series. Every pass was contested and Hutson also had a challenge when he attempted to carry the puck out of the zone.

Hutson learned that the Hurricanes were far more effective than the Lightning or the Sabres in the first two rounds of the playoffs. He was held to a goal and an assist by the Canes. Much more was needed.

St. Louis could not stem the tide

After a brilliant start to the series in the 6-2 Game 1 victory, the Canadiens faced something of a Carolina tidal wave in the next four games.

The Canadiens lost Games 2 and 3 in overtime, but Carolina controlled both games by dominating possession and delivering a relentless attack. Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes played brilliantly in those games by keeping the score close.

However, the dam broke in Games 4 and 5 and while St. Louis knew what was coming, he was unable to stem the relentless Hurricanes forecheck. Head coach Martin St. Louis needs to push his team much harder next year and get his team to attack in a similar manner as Carolina.

If the Canadiens want to bring the Stanley Cup back to their adoring fans in Quebec and all of Canada, they have to step up, dominate possession and attack with a non-stop forecheck — much like the victorious Canes.

It will be up to St. Louis to demand this kind of change, starting with the first day of training camp next season.

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