Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Eastern Conference Finals between the Hurricanes and Canadiens shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Monday night all tied at 1-1. Usually, the winner of Game 3 of a best-of-7 wins the series, and Carolina is a -135 favourite on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5 goals.
Hurricanes vs. Canadiens NHL Betting Odds
Carolina evened up this series at 1-1 with a 3-2 overtime home win on Saturday, the franchise’s first conference finals home win since 2006. You do not want to get to OT with the Hurricanes as they have won six straight playoff games past regulation, the second-longest run in team history behind seven in a row from 2021-23. Carolina is 4-0 in OT games in these playoffs, the fourth team in as many postseasons to win at least each of its first four. The overall record is seven by the 2003 Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks.
How important is Game 3? Teams that take a 2-1 lead in a best-of-7 series in the round before the Stanley Cup Finals hold an all-time series mark of 92-28, including 38-12 when starting on the road and 54-16 at home.
Carolina moved from -120 on the series line to -205 with the Game 2 victory, while Montreal went from +100 to +170. On the series spread, the Habs at +1.5 are -145, and the Hurricanes at -1.5 are +120. The over-under for total games is 6.5, and Carolina in six is the leader at +300. We will simply take +1.5 games at this point on Montreal.
The Canadiens are 26-19 all-time in a best-of-7 series when tied 1-1, while the Hurricanes are 6-6 in such series.
Carolina Hurricanes
After a very shaky Game 1, Carolina goaltender and former Maple Leaf Frederik Andersen was still a bit off in Game 2 as he stopped only 10 of 12 shots in the 3-2 overtime victory. His defence blocked 20 shots, and the Canes had 14 more shots on goal and outhit the Canadiens a whopping 46-16.
Nikolaj Ehlers was the No. 1 star with two goals, including the winner at 3:29 of overtime. He became the fifth player in team history since 2010 to score within the opening four minutes of playoff overtime. Ehlers also became he second Danish player in NHL history to reach 12 career playoff goals.
Eric Robinson had the other Carolina goal in Game 2, his second straight game scoring. He looks to become the third player in franchise history to start a series with a three-game goal streak. Logan Stankoven set the mark of four in Round 1 this year.
The Hurricanes are unbeaten in the road in these playoffs and can win five consecutive road postseason games for the second time in franchise history, following a six-game run in 2002. The Hurricanes are 14-24 in all Game 3s dating to their Whalers days and 8-13 away.
Montreal Canadiens
Josh Anderson had both Montreal goals in the Game 2 loss and is up to five in these playoffs. He became only the fifth player in franchise history with multiple game-tying goals in the same playoff contest. But Montreal remained stuck on 31 comeback wins this regular season and playoffs combined, tied with the 1993 and 1976 clubs for the most in team history.
Phillip Danault had two assists, his second straight two-point game. On Monday, he looks to join P.K. Subban (three games in Round 2 of 2014) as the second Canadiens player in the past 45 years to record multiple points in each of his team’s first three games of a series.
Montreal is 6-0 when following a loss this postseason and can become the fourth team in NHL history to record seven straight victories in that scenario. The NHL record is eight by the 1988 New Jersey Devils. The Canadiens are 76-51 all-time in Game 3s and 26-21 at home.
CAR
MON