2026 NHL Eastern Conference Final: 4 Takeaways From Hurricanes-Canadiens Game 1

Well, well, well. The young, spunky team that had played 14 grueling games leading up to the Eastern Conference Final handily outlasted the side that seemed to coast through just eight.

The speedy Montreal Canadiens started exactly as they needed to and never looked back as a 4-1 first period turned into a 6-2 Game 1 win in the ECF.

This is the Carolina Hurricanes' first loss of the playoffs. Does it mean they are fated to the same curse that has held them to 1-17 in their latest Eastern Conference Final appearances, or were they simply due for a loss as they came into this Final an undefeated 8-0?

Here are the biggest takeaways from a wild Game 1.

Canadiens Take Advantage of Hurricanes' Rust

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Ivan Demidov scores against Frederik Andersen

The Hurricanes may have scored first with Seth Jarvis opening the scoring just 33 seconds into the game, but Montreal answered right back and ended up owning the first period 4-1.

It was clear that head coach Martin St. Louis drilled home the importance of a strong start, and that a strong start would capitalize on the exact disparity between these two teams at this moment: speed and momentum.

The Hurricanes were the first NHL team to sweep their first two playoff rounds since the NHL playoffs became best-of-seven in all four rounds in 1987. That led to an 11-day break, the longest break for a playoff team in the past 100 years.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens were hard at work winning two consecutive Game 7s in the two most exciting playoff rounds of these playoffs against the Lightning and the Sabres.

It's rare that a team does exactly what it needs to do to win a specific game under specific circumstances, and these Canadiens did exactly that. We need to give credit to Martin St. Louis for preparing them to do so.

Carolina Finds Its Game (For A Bit), But Dobes Continues to Stand Tall for Habs

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Jordan Staal

This game was won in the first half of the first period—an extreme rarity in any playoff game, especially against a team as sound as the 'Canes.

Again, the Habs deserve credit for winning this game exactly how they needed to before the Hurricanes could smell blood and adjust accordingly.

We saw the Hurricanes' attempt to do what has been successful for them all postseason in the second period. They suppressed the opponent's shots, kept it close, and got a goal of their own to make it interesting.

This time, however, their opponent dominated so much in the first that they couldn't make up for it. The second-period shot suppression and goal merely made a dent in the three-goal lead the Canadiens already had.

The 'Canes can find some respite in the fact that they didn't totally succumb to the Canadiens and mustered a solid period of hockey out of this slog, but Montreal bookended a beautiful game of hockey.

Martin St. Louis is Getting the Most Out of the Habs

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There have been many stories written about Martin St. Louis and his leadership as this playoff run keeps raging on for the Canadiens, and all of them make me love the guy even more.

This beautiful story about his late mother's encouragement from Stu Cowan is wonderful. This week's episode of Spittin' Chiclets featuring St. Louis' former teammate, Chris Nilan, had tons of good stuff, especially the remark that "guys in that Montreal locker room are hearing things they've never heard before."

It's clear St. Louis is bringing a fresh, respected, and effective voice into a very intimidating locker room situation. It's working—on a particularly young team at that—and it's awesome to see.

Montreal's Core Is Here to Stay

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Nick Suzuki

Man, what an absolute showing and gut check these playoffs have been for this young Montreal core.

Nick Suzuki has stepped up big time as captain. Juraj Slafkovsky remains absolutely fearless as he is clutch with two late-game goals to seal Thursday night's Game 1. Cole Caufield netted his fifth of the playoffs without even flinching. Lane Hutson is the newest prototype of the best defenseman in the world.

Wait, why did we ever even doubt these guys?

Remember, at the beginning of the season, when some of us wondered if they would work on the retool a bit more or just go for the playoffs again?

That seems pretty silly now. There are "young teams" like the Ducks, and there are "young teams" captained by Suzuki with a young phenom such as Hutson holding it down on defense.

Games like these show you the difference.