Habs enter Game 5 of Eastern Conference final down 3-1 to dominant Hurricanes

Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki (14), Cole Caufield (13) and Kirby Dach (77) watch the final minutes of play in front of head coach Martin St. Louis against the Carolina Hurricanes during third period of Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

The Montreal Canadiens are fighting for their playoff lives Friday night as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference final.

The Canadiens enter the game in Raleigh down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series after the Hurricanes skated to a dominant 4-0 win at the Bell Centre in Game 4 on Wednesday.

It’s the first time in these playoffs that Montreal has faced a two-game series deficit.

The two teams took very different paths to the conference final, with the Habs slogging through a pair of seven-game series and the Hurricanes cruising to back-to-back sweeps.

It appeared the rust had set in for Carolina after Montreal took the opener 6-2.

But the Hurricanes responded with a pair of 3-2 overtime wins before Wednesday’s shutout victory. Montreal has been outshot 109-43 over those three losses.

If Montreal loses, it would ensure a 32nd straight season that an American team has won the Stanley Cup.

The 1992-93 Canadiens are the last Canadian team to win the trophy.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2026.