The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes are set to face off in the Eastern Conference final, a highly anticipated series that promises intense hockey. Here are five things to know as the teams prepare for battle.
1. Goaltending Duel
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes has been stellar, making key saves like his stop on Taylor Hall's breakaway in March. His performance will be crucial against the Hurricanes' high-powered offense.
2. Special Teams Battle
Both teams boast strong power plays and penalty kills. The Canadiens' unit has clicked at over 25% in the playoffs, while the Hurricanes have been effective shorthanded. Special teams could decide close games.
3. Historical Matchups
These teams have met twice in the playoffs before, with Montreal winning both series. However, Carolina has dominated the regular-season series recently, winning four of five meetings this year.
4. Key Injuries
The Hurricanes are dealing with injuries to defenseman Brett Pesce and forward Teuvo Teravainen, both questionable for Game 1. The Canadiens are relatively healthy, with only depth forward Michael Pezzetta sidelined.
5. Home Ice Advantage
Montreal holds home-ice advantage, with the Bell Centre crowd providing a boost. The Canadiens are 6-2 at home this postseason, while Carolina is 4-3 on the road.
The series begins Wednesday night in Montreal, with Game 2 scheduled for Friday. Expect a tight, physical contest between two well-matched teams.
