Eastern Conference Final Game 2: Carolina vs Montreal Preview, How to Watch, Game Thread

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 21: Ivan Demidov #93 of the Montréal Canadiens (not pictured) scores a goal on Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 21, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images So, have we flushed Thursday yet? Look, no one expected the Hurricanes to go 16-0.

Going 8-0, after all, was a modern NHL record so it told you that the streak was going to end at some point. In fact an eight game winning streak would qualify as their longest streak in nearly two years and if you want to get really technical it was nine thanks to their regular season finale win on Long Island. They were due.

But man, did it have to be in that game in this round? And did they have to look that bad in the first period to seemingly permanently settle the “rest versus rust” debate? You could hear it in the answers the Canes and the coaches gave after the game.

Jaccob Slavin wasn’t avoiding any responsibility for one of the worst games of his professional career, and Rod Brind’Amour wasn’t about to try and sugarcoat it either. Too many players were trying to do too much and did so against a really good Montreal team that has long surpassed “we have nothing to lose” territory with this season. It bit them quickly, and despite the old adage a three-goal lead just isn’t that easy to erase in the NHL.