Venue: PNC Arena — Raleigh, North Carolina
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM ET
Carolina leads the series 3–1 and has a chance to close it out at home, where they’ve been one of the NHL’s most dominant teams over the past three seasons. Montreal faces elimination and must rediscover the defensive structure that carried them through the first round.
INJURY REPORT
Montreal Canadiens
- Cole Caufield — Questionable (upper body) Game‑time decision; massive impact on Montreal’s scoring ceiling.
- Kaiden Guhle — Probable (lower body) Expected to play; key for defensive zone exits.
- Juraj Slafkovský — Probable (illness) Should be available; energy line depends on him.
- Jake Allen — Out (hip) No impact on starter rotation.
Carolina Hurricanes
- Andrei Svechnikov — Probable (maintenance) Expected to play; top‑six physical presence.
- Brent Burns — Questionable (lower body) If out, Carolina loses PP quarterbacking.
- Jordan Martinook — Probable (hand) Will play; key penalty killer.
- Frederik Andersen — Out (concussion protocol) Pyotr Kochetkov remains the starter.
TEAM RECORDS & CONTEXT
Montreal Canadiens
- Regular Season: 44–34–4
- Playoffs: 5–6
- Road Record: 20–18–3
- Current Form: Lost 3 straight; offense sputtering.
Carolina Hurricanes
- Regular Season: 52–26–4
- Playoffs: 7–3
- Home Record: 29–10–2
- Current Form: Won 3 straight; forecheck overwhelming Montreal.
RECENT TEAM FORM (LAST 5 GAMES)
Montreal
- Game 4: L 1–4
- Game 3: L 2–3
- Game 2: L 2–5
- Game 1: W 3–2
- Round 1 Game 7: W 4–1
Trend: Montreal has scored only 5 goals in the last 3 games. Power play is 1-for-11 in the series.
Carolina
- Game 4: W 4–1
- Game 3: W 3–2
- Game 2: W 5–2
- Game 1: L 2–3
- Round 1 Game 7: W 3–0
Trend: Hurricanes have allowed just 5 goals in their last 3 games. Kochetkov’s save percentage in the series: .931.
SERIES HISTORY (2023–2026)
- Last 10 meetings: Hurricanes lead 7–3
- In Raleigh: Hurricanes lead 5–1
- Playoff history: Carolina eliminated Montreal in 2024 (Round 1, 4–1)
- Hurricanes have won 6 of last 7 playoff games vs. Montreal
Carolina’s speed and forecheck have consistently overwhelmed Montreal’s young defensive core.
KEY PLAYER MATCHUPS
1. Sebastian Aho vs. Nick Suzuki
- Aho: 2G, 4A in series
- Suzuki: 1G, 1A in series
- Aho’s line controlling 60%+ of expected goals
- Suzuki struggling to generate controlled entries
Edge: Hurricanes
2. Martin Necas vs. Kirby Dach
- Necas: 3 points in last 2 games
- Dach: Physical but turnover‑prone
- Necas’ speed is creating mismatches in transition
Edge: Hurricanes
3. Wingers: Svechnikov/Teräväinen vs. Caufield/Slafkovský
- If Caufield is limited or out, Montreal loses its only elite finisher
- Svechnikov’s physicality wearing down Montreal’s left side
- Teräväinen’s puck distribution has been surgical
Edge: Hurricanes
4. Goaltending: Kochetkov vs. Montembeault
- Kochetkov: .931 SV%, calm, rebound control excellent
- Montembeault: .904 SV%, high‑danger struggles
- Carolina generating more slot chances
Edge: Hurricanes
BETTING TRENDS
Against the Spread (Puck Line)
- Hurricanes: 5–1 PL last 6 home games
- Canadiens: 1–4 PL last 5 overall
- Hurricanes: 4–0 PL last 4 wins in this series
Totals
- Under is 6–2 in Montreal’s last 8
- Under is 5–2 in Carolina’s last 7
- Under is 3–1 in this series
Moneyline Trends
- Hurricanes have won 7 straight at home vs. Montreal
- Canadiens are 2–8 in last 10 road playoff games
Game Odds
Montreal Canadiens 5.5
Carolina Hurricanes – 225
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, May 28, 2026
