Carolina Hurricanes took a commanding lead in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens, scoring three times in the first period after surviving two early Canadiens power plays, with Logan Stankoven’s goal and follow-up goals in a d
Carolina walked into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final with a 2-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens, and the opening period quickly made it feel like the home-ice script was going to belong to the Hurricanes.
The Bell Centre crowd needed a spark from the Canadiens—anything to pull the series back level—but it never arrived. Carolina dominated the first period and capped the surge with Logan Stankoven’s goal that silenced the building.
The Hurricanes nearly hit the scoreboard on multiple fronts early, surviving two Canadiens power plays to keep the game scoreless. Then the penalty tides turned, and Carolina’s next chances didn’t just come—they landed. Sebastian Aho scored on the power play with 5:01 to play in the first.
What followed was a rapid, stinging burst that changed the feel of the matchup. Captain Jordan Staal scored, and Stankoven followed with another goal within three minutes, giving Carolina the big lead and sending the Canadiens back to the bench with the momentum clearly slipping away.
By the time the first period ended, the tension had shifted fully to Montreal: in this game, they didn’t just need answers—they needed a win to tie the series up, and the Hurricanes had already taken control before the second even had a chance to start.
Carolina Hurricanes Montreal Canadiens Eastern Conference Final Game 4 Logan Stankoven Sebastian Aho Jordan Staal NHL playoffs