The Carolina Hurricanes dropped their first 2026 postseason game in grand fashion by a score of 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens. With the loss, they fall behind 1-0 after game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Canes had a record 11 day break between games and many wondered if that pause would cause some rust as they tried to work themselves back into game shape. The obvious answer was yes, although the Canes would not necessarily admit it.
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While it seemed they had good energy, perhaps they were slow mentally.
After Seth Jarvis scored just 33 seconds into the game, the Habs would answer four straight times to make the score 4-1 before the end of the first period. Each goal was due to some breakdown or deficiency on the home team’s part. The Canes seemed to be skating in mud and were too often a step behind the speedy Montreal team in that period.
Captain Jordan Staal indicated that his team was not prepared.
“We were just not aware of them obviously. Different (guys), different style, different pace. Just awareness, really. The breakaways that we gave up right off the bat. Obviously, we need to find ways to defend better.”
If the team was not “aware” of how Montreal played, one wonders why they did not watch more film during their ample time off. Montreal, even with their short time between series, seemed to be well aware of how Carolina played.
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The second period was more like Carolina hockey as they held the Habs to just three shots on goal. Eric Robinson scored on a breakaway to make it 4-2, but the Canes would not get any closer.
In the third period, the Hurricanes were only credited with two shots on goal themselves. Obviously, that was not going to get the job done. The Habs scored twice more, once on an empty net, to close out the scoring.
Jaccob Slavin blamed the loss on himself and not on the rust.
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“No, I don’t think it had anything to do with the break but personally I think I handed them the game, so I need to be better.”
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/joye4nyb18o39l25hfqkr/AHT8aJ9jnJRMk0T438bhbVo/Postgame?dl=0&preview=SlavinPost052126.mp3&rlkey=1vdhocgtz2jz3b8j5i0s0j4yn&subfolder_nav_tracking=1
Brind’Amour said much the same in his interview.
“I don’t think we were very sharp. Our top guys had a rough night and that will not work this time of year……… We clearly were not ready for that pace. I’m not going to use the layoff as an excuse, but we were not ready to play playoff hockey.
When asked why he replied.
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“Yeah, we weren’t ready. I mean we were not mentally ready.”
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/joye4nyb18o39l25hfqkr/AHT8aJ9jnJRMk0T438bhbVo/Postgame?dl=0&preview=rod+clean+16×9.mp4&rlkey=1vdhocgtz2jz3b8j5i0s0j4yn&subfolder_nav_tracking=1
It is a bit perplexing why the team was not ready, but it is just one game and they will have another opportunity on Saturday night.
Now that game is a huge game.
Game Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/GS030311.HTM
Event Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/ES030311.HTM
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