Canadiens defeat – Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice as the Montreal Canadiens exploded for four first-period goals and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Raleigh, North Carolina on May 21. Jakub Dobes made 25 saves for Montreal, while Car
The first punch didn’t even wait for the playoffs to settle in.
Less than a minute into the opening clash of the Eastern Conference finals at Raleigh. North Carolina. Carolina’s Seth Jarvis snapped a quick shot from the right circle to put the Hurricanes ahead 33 seconds after the puck dropped. Montreal didn’t blink. Cole Caufield answered at the one-minute mark from the slot. burying an open chance as the teams traded momentum like they were trying to measure each other’s pulse.
By the time the Canadiens finished the first period, the scoreboard had grown cruel for Carolina. Montreal rode a four-goal first period to a 6-2 win over the Hurricanes on May 21, taking an early lead in the best-of-seven series.
Juraj Slafkovsky made the loudest impact when it mattered most. He scored twice in a three-point outing. Alongside him, Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault each scored once and added an assist for the Canadiens. Alexandre Texier and Ivan Demidov also found the net for Montreal.
In goal, Jakub Dobes stopped 25 saves, while Nick Suzuki collected three assists. Carolina’s Frederik Andersen made 16 saves, but the Hurricanes couldn’t slow Montreal once the first period turned into a flood.
The game moved fast—and then it tipped.
After Danault put Montreal ahead with a breakaway at 4:04 during 4-on-4 play, Texier stretched the lead to 3-1 with a one-timer from the slot four minutes later. Demidov then pushed Montreal’s fourth goal of the opening frame with another breakaway, leaving Carolina and its faithful stunned.
Robinson finally gave Carolina a jolt when he cut the deficit to 4-2 by finishing a partial breakaway at 2:46 of the second period. But the Hurricanes could not build on it. Slafkovsky struck again at 7:05 of the third period, using a toe-drag to elude a defender and tuck home a shot. His empty-net goal rounded out the scoring.
The final stretch made the gap feel sharper. Carolina managed only two shots on goal in the third period.
Carolina’s season-long strength under playoff pressure hit a wall in a setting where it had looked especially dominant. The Hurricanes lost for the first time in this year’s playoffs. They had also swept their opposition in each of the first two rounds. surrendering only five goals in total in each of those series.
Still, there’s a broader pattern hanging over Game 1 that Carolina will have to shake off quickly. Carolina has lost seven straight conference final openers and won only once in its last 17 conference final clashes.
The next game comes quickly. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Saturday, May 23 in Raleigh.
Montreal Canadiens Carolina Hurricanes Eastern Conference finals Game 1 Juraj Slafkovsky Jakub Dobes Frederik Andersen Cole Caufield Phillip Danault Ivan Demidov Alexandre Texier Nick Suzuki Seth Jarvis Eric Robinson
Welp Slafkovsky said “I’m the playoffs” 😑 6-2 already and it’s just Game 1.
I swear Carolina always does this, they score first then just melt. Like 33 seconds in and then somehow it’s 6-2? Defense needs to get it together.
Wait so the Canadiens scored 4 in the first period but it says “first punch didn’t even wait for the playoffs”?? I’m confused if that’s like hockey slang or if the article is mixing dates. Also wasn’t Dobes supposed to be injured or something? 25 saves sounds good tho.
Four goals in the first is crazy. Makes me think Hurricanes were tanking or something because Andersen only 16 saves?? I don’t watch enough to know, but if they can’t even slow Montreal right after that right circle shot, then yeah series over already.