After suffering their first loss of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Game 1 of this series, the Carolina Hurricanes responded with a pair of overtime wins to go up on the Montreal Canadiens. It’s not a must-win for the Habs but it’s darn close to avoid a deeper hole.
Montreal reached the conference final despite having problems winning games on home ice. Monday’s setback dropped them to 2-5 at the Bell Centre during the playoffs after going 24-15-2 at home during the regular season.
Hurricanes at Canadiens Preview
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens will take place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET with the game airing on TNT and truTV.
Public Betting Odds Factors
- Not having home ice advantage served the Canadiens well in the first two rounds winning Game 7 over Tampa Bay and Buffalo on the road to advance. In each series the Habs lost Game 6 at home forcing the series to go the distance.
- The Habs won just two of their first seven home playoff games with the Game 3 loss to Carolina their third straight. In those games the team allowed a total of 14 goals. In those games the UNDER on the Stanley Cup Playoff betting line is 5-2.
- The Canes are enjoying one of the finest playoff runs in NHL history with 10 wins in their first 11 games. That success can be attributed to many things, but their comfort level in overtime is a big factor. They beat Montreal in OT in a second straight game and their last three postseason wins and four of their last five have been in overtime.
- If there was ever a game for Carolina to lose it would have been Game 3. The Canes dominated play, outshooting Montreal 38-13 and allowing just one shot on goal in the final 37:40. Those numbers typically don’t lead to a one-goal overtime game, but this is the Stanley Cup playoffs.
- Carolina notched the first goal of Game 3 over eight minutes into the opening frame. They’ve opened the scoring in every game this series and in nine of their 11 playoff contests. They are 8-1 in those games.
- The effects of a long delay have apparently subsided now that the series has reached Game 4. The Canes had 11 days off between the end of Round 2 and the start of this series. The rust was evident in Game 1 when they allowed four first period goals, more than they’ve given up in any game, and lost 6-2.
Hurricanes at Canadiens Predictions
- Though they were woefully outplayed in Games 2 and 3, the Canadiens were a bounce away from stealing a game or even two thanks to the strong netminding of Jakub Dobes. He withstood the onslaught in Game 3 stopping 35 of 38 shots getting his club to overtime. He’s stopped 84 shots in the first three games with a .913 SV%. Things would likely be much worse if not for his strong play.
- Carolina is averaging 2.91 goals per game in the postseason, more than half a goal per game less than what they averaged during the regular season. They haven’t needed to score a lot thanks to the stingiest defense, but it would be nice to have a buffer. The power play has been putrid going 0 for 8 in this series and 5 for 45 (11.1%) in the postseason.
Hurricanes at Canadiens Betting Tips
- Bank on the Canes if the game goes to overtime. They are a perfect 5-0 in the extra session and on the road in the playoffs.
- For the first time this postseason the Habs lost consecutive games scoring just two goals in each contest. They are just 2-5 on home ice in the playoffs.
- Carolina has conceded two goals or less in all but one of their playoff games and they’ve played UNDER the closing total on the NHL betting line in 10 of 12 contests.
Hurricanes at Canadiens Head to Head and Key Stats
- Don’t count the Canadiens out of the series yet. They won all three regular season matchups scoring 15 goals.
- Leading scorer Nick Suzuki has gone without a point and has only three shots on goal in the last two games while the Habs have only 25 SOG combined.
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