4 Key Takeaways from Canadiens’ 3-1 Victory Over Hurricanes

Key Takeaways from the Montreal Canadiens’ 3-1 Victory Over the Carolina Hurricanes

The Montreal Canadiens came off a strong 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators, but they didn’t have much time to celebrate before facing the Carolina Hurricanes just a day later. This was their second meeting with the Hurricanes in about eight days, and after the Hurricanes had previously blown a 2-0 lead against Montreal, there was an expectation of revenge.

The Hurricanes started strong with a power-play goal in the first period, but Montreal quickly took control. They scored three goals in the second period, while neither team could add to their total in the final frame. Despite the lack of scoring in the third, the Canadiens secured the win, moving them to 92 points on the season and keeping them in third place in the Atlantic Division.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the game:

Arber Xhekaj Returns to Action but as a Forward

The Canadiens made a notable lineup change ahead of the game due to Josh Anderson’s absence caused by illness. Instead of bringing in Alexandre Texier, the team opted for defenseman Arber Xhekaj.

Xhekaj hadn’t played since March 15th and had been seeing limited minutes as part of the third defensive pair. Against the Hurricanes, he again saw minimal ice time, with only five shifts, but he brought physicality with four hits during those shifts.

This move doesn’t seem to be a long-term solution, but it was good to see Xhekaj get some action after an extended absence.

Canadiens Top Line Continues to Be Unstoppable

The Canadiens’ top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky continues to be a dominant force for the team. They delivered another impressive performance against the Hurricanes.

Nick Suzuki opened the scoring and had two goals in the second period, marking his first goals in five games. Suzuki has primarily been a facilitator on this line, recording nine assists over that stretch, including one on Caufield’s 46th goal. Juraj Slafkovsky also added an assist in the period, which set up Suzuki’s power-play goal.

This trio has been instrumental in the Canadiens’ recent five-game winning streak.

Montreal Canadiens Face a Scare with Jakub Dobes’ Potential Injury

Everything seemed to be going smoothly for the Canadiens in the game, but it almost turned bad at the end of the first period. Jakub Dobes made a save across the crease and appeared to flex his leg afterward.

The incident occurred right at the end of the period, and it was unclear if Dobes would be able to return or if Jacob Fowler would step in. Fortunately, Dobes returned and put together another stellar performance, making 34 saves on 35 shots.

Dobes has now gone 4-1-0 in his last five starts, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his recent games.

Carolina Hurricanes Will Want to Avoid the Canadiens in the Playoffs

This is now the second win for the Canadiens over the Hurricanes in less than a week. After the first game, Pierre McGuire made a bold prediction that this was the team the Canadiens would want in the first round. After this game, that prediction might be even more accurate.

The Canadiens were playing their second road game in as many nights and managed to secure an impressive victory against the team leading the Eastern Conference.

The five-game winning streak has firmly placed the Canadiens in third place in the Atlantic Division, potentially setting them up for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Buffalo Sabres. However, if they slip into the wild card, a meeting with the Hurricanes might be the best path forward for them.