Canadiens Aim to Break Home Curse in Crucial Game 3 Against Hurricanes
The Montreal Canadiens strive to maintain their impressive playoff record as they face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Final at the Bell Centre on Monday. Despite a tough loss in overtime during the last game, the Canadiens are determined to avoid back-to-back defeats for the first time this postseason and take a crucial 2-1 lead in the series. Montreal has demonstrated resilience throughout the playoffs, aiming for a seventh bounce-back victory this postseason. They have not lost consecutive games since mid-March, but their home performance has been less than stellar, with a record of 2-4 at the Bell Centre in these playoffs. Key moments include: Josh Anderson tied the last game with a goal late in the third period, only for Nikolaj Ehlers to secure the win for Carolina in overtime. The Hurricanes opened scoring early in the previous game with a goal from Eric Robinson, marking his second goal in the series. On the Hurricanes’ side, several players have stood out: William Carrier, Mark Jankowski, and Jalen Chatfield each provided two assists. The top line of Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven has yet to score against Montreal. For the Canadiens, Juraj Slafkovsky continues to shine with two goals and an assist, while Phillip Danault has been instrumental, recording a goal and three assists over the last eight games. In goal, Frederik Andersen has struggled against Montreal, allowing seven goals on 33 shots. The betting odds favor the Hurricanes, listed around -136, while the Canadiens sit at approximately +114. Game predictions suggest: Hurricanes ML (-134, FanDuel): Carolina’s strong away record (4-0) contrasts with Montreal’s struggles at home. Logan Stankoven - Anytime goal scorer (+260, FanDuel): Despite a recent scoring drought, Stankoven’s past performance suggests he may find the net against the Canadiens.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-05-24