Hurricanes lead – The Carolina Hurricanes grabbed a 2-1 lead over the Montreal Canadiens after the first period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, with Shayne Gostisbehere scoring at 8:22 and Taylor Hall restoring the advantage at 16:22. Mike Matheson answered for Montr
The game didn’t even wait for the scoreboard to catch up.
Carolina’s Hurricanes and Montreal’s Canadiens launched into a physical first period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, trading thunderous hits and pushing each other into early discipline. After 20 minutes, Carolina held a 2-1 lead.
Shayne Gostisbehere opened the scoring for the Hurricanes at 8:22, skating in from the blueline and beating Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes by converting a pass from Mark Jankowski. It was the third time in as many games this series that Carolina scored first.
Mike Matheson answered for Montreal at 15:28, wiring a wrist shot past the glove hand of Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen to tie the game at 1-1. Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans were credited with helpers on Matheson’s goal.
Hall’s response came quickly. At 16:22, Taylor Hall won a battle in front of the net and converted on his third swipe at the puck to restore Carolina’s one-goal lead. K’Andre Miller and Jackson Blake picked up assists on the Hurricanes’ 2-1 advantage.
Penalties punctuated the opening frame. Hurricanes defenceman Jalen Chatfield took the first penalty of the game at 4:46 for interference. Later, with 59 seconds left in the period, Kaiden Guhle took the Canadiens’ first penalty of the game, also for interference. Carolina will open the second period on the power play.
The series is tied 1-1. The Hurricanes and Canadiens shifted venues for Game 3 after the first two games took place at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, before moving to Bell Centre in Montreal on Monday.
Juraj Slafkovsky had three points as the Canadiens won Game 1 on the road, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored the overtime winner as the Hurricanes responded with a victory in Game 2. Game 4 is set to take place in Montreal on Wednesday night.
NHL Eastern Conference Final Game 3 Carolina Hurricanes Montreal Canadiens Shayne Gostisbehere Taylor Hall Mike Matheson Frederik Andersen Jakub Dobes Jalen Chatfield Kaiden Guhle Bell Centre Lenovo Center
So Canadiens just got outscored in the first period again? Cool cool.
I can’t even believe how physical that first period was. Like penalties already and it’s only 20 minutes in. Hurricanes 2-1 is kinda wild though.
Wait, didn’t Matheson play for Carolina at some point? Idk hockey rosters confuse me. But if Carolina’s already up 2-1 after one period then Canadiens better stop taking dumb penalties or they’re done.
Every time I hear “interference” I’m like ok whose gonna take the blame. Also, why did it matter that they moved venues? Bell Centre sounds like it should be loud for Montreal but somehow Carolina scored first again. If Game 4 is Wednesday, I’m guessing Canadiens come out flat again. Maybe Jakub Dobes let one in too many, idk.