Well, well, well. The young, spunky team that had played 14 grueling games leading up to the Eastern Conference Final handily outlasted the side that seemed to coast through just eight.
The speedy Montreal Canadiens started exactly as they needed to and never looked back as a 4-1 first period turned into a 6-2 Game 1 win in the ECF.
This is the Carolina Hurricanes’ first loss of the playoffs. Does it mean they are fated to the same curse that has held them to 1-17 in their latest Eastern Conference Final appearances, or were they simply due for a loss as they came into this Final an undefeated 8-0?
Here are the biggest takeaways from a wild Game 1.