Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov (37) battles for the puck with Montreal Canadiens counterpart Juraj Slafkovsky (20) as Nick Suzuki (14) watches nearby in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
By The Canadian Press
May 22, 2026 | 12:03 PM
RALEIGH — The Montreal Canadiens survived two playoff rounds without much production from their top line.
A balanced attack further down the lineup allowed the club to get past both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in knife-edged, seven-game triumphs.
Montreal’s stars showed spurts on the power play, but gaining offensive traction at 5-on-5 was largely a challenge in difficult matchups.
The Canadiens’ best forwards finally broke through to open the Eastern Conference final — and put the aggressive Carolina Hurricanes on their heels.