CAROLINA HURRICANES 6, MONTREAL CANADIENS 4
The Carolina Hurricanes made a statement in Montreal’s home opener, thoroughly outplaying the Canadiens in a rematch of last spring’s Eastern Conference final showdown.
Taylor Hall’s brace and Sebastian Aho’s commanding two-point performance powered Carolina to a convincing 6-4 victory at the Bell Centre, where the atmosphere remained electric despite the lopsided result. The win marks the Hurricanes’ second consecutive triumph to begin their campaign.
Lightning-Fast Start Sets Tone
Tuesday’s contest exploded onto the scene early, with five goals scored in just the opening 13 minutes. Hall opened the scoring at 2:25, capitalising on a turnover by Juraj Slafkovsky in front of the Montreal crease before deflecting Jackson Blake’s shot past goaltender Jakub Dobes.
Zachary Bolduc answered for the Canadiens at 3:23, gathering a juicy rebound and roofing a backhand into the top corner. Nick Suzuki then put Montreal ahead 64 seconds later with a crisp snap shot over Brandon Bussi’s left shoulder, only for Eric Robinson to level matters at 9:22 when Jalen Chatfield’s point shot caromed off him and past Dobes.
Bolduc’s second goal came at 12:54 via the power play, giving the Canadiens a brief 3-2 edge that held until the second period.
Hurricanes Assert Control in Second
Carolina’s relentless forecheck began wearing down Montreal’s defence, and it paid dividends early in the middle frame. Aho converted on the power play at 3:56, rifling a shot through Dobes’ pads to restore parity.
Mark Jankowski then capitalised on a untimely Noah Dobson turnover at 13:24, collecting the loose puck for an easy tap-in that gave the Hurricanes their first lead of the evening. Hall extended Carolina’s advantage at 12:21 of the third period, chasing Dobes from the net after the Canadiens goaltender allowed his fifth goal on 28 shots.
Late Rally Falls Short
Slafkovsky jumped on a crucial rebound with 3:04 remaining, pulling Montreal within one and setting up a tense finish. Andrei Svechnikov sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, while Bussi earned the win after making 16 saves in relief of an injured Frederik Andersen.
Canadiens Deal with Injury Setback
Montreal’s offence continued to generate chances, with Alexandre Texier and Chris Krieder each contributing two assists. However, the absence of skilled winger Ivan Demidov—who will miss two to four weeks with a lower-body injury—left a noticeable void in the lineup.
Kirby Dach slid into Demidov’s spot on the second line alongside Alex Newhook and Slafkovsky, while forward Florian Xhekaj drew into the lineup for the home opener.
Hurricanes’ Dominance Echoes Playoff Success
Carolina’s comprehensive performance mirrored their clinical display throughout last season’s third-round series, where they eliminated Montreal in five games en route to capturing the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes averaged 33.4 shots per game during that playoff run while limiting the Canadiens to just 17.8.
Aho continued his remarkable track record against Montreal, notching his 14th goal and 33rd point in 26 career meetings with the Original Six franchise.
Up Next
The Hurricanes return to action Thursday night against the Vancouver Canucks at PNC Arena, while the Canadiens host the Nashville Predators in their next home contest.
Why it Matters
This lopsided victory serves as a stark reminder of the gap between these two franchises following last season’s playoff drama. Carolina’s methodical dismantling of Montreal’s defence—and their ability to neutralise the Bell Centre’s raucous crowd—suggests the Hurricanes remain the favourites heading into this season’s Eastern Conference race. For the Canadiens, questions will persist about their goaltending and defensive structure after surrendering six goals to a team that averaged fewer than three per game last season. The injury to Demidov adds further concern to a rebuilding roster that must find ways to compete with established powerhouses like Carolina if they hope to return to meaningful hockey in April.
