"(Almost) Five Years in the Making": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 58: Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens

After a rough return from the break, the Canes tried to get back on track as they visited Montreal for the first time this season. In need of a shot of adrenaline, Rod Brind'Amour opted to change the lines up, splitting Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen to try and get the two going. The Canes entered Montreal on Tuesday on a nine-game winning streak against the Habs, hoping to reach double digits with their first win after the break.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

MTL (8:05)- Juraj Slafkovsky (10) (Jayden Struble (5) & Nick Suzuki (40))

MTL (17:37)- Patrik Laine (14) (Alexander Carrier (17) & Alex Newhook (9))

2nd Period

MTL (10:04)- Nick Suzuki (16) PP (Patrik Laine (7) & Cole Caufield (24))

3rd Period

MTL (10:22)- Lane Hutson (4) PP (Patrik Laine (8) & Nick Suzuki (41))

My Thoughts

We've reached a day I've been dreading for a long time. The Montreal Canadiens have finally beaten the Carolina Hurricanes for the first time in almost exactly five years. In fact, it was February 29, 2020, when the Habs last defeated the Canes. On that night, Montreal jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Anton Forsberg, forcing Rod Brind'Amour to bring in Alex Nedeljkovic. The Canes responded by scoring three unanswered, including Justin Williams' game-tying goal with 1:20 left in regulation, but Jeff Petry was the hero in overtime to win the game. If we want to go even further back, the last time the Habs won in regulation was a 6-4 decision in December 2018. Both games were at Centre Bell. We've been delaying the inevitable, but it's a sad day.

The reality is that this game was dreadful as a Canes fan. The Canes were the better team for less than eight minutes tonight. Montreal dominated them in all three zones for the overwhelming majority of the contest. Nick Suzuki ran the Canes' show, scoring a goal and adding two assists. Patrik Laine did the same. They were the real differences in the game. Samuel Montembeault shut them out, but the Hurricanes failed to showcase anything that remotely resembled an offensive game tonight. They managed just 20 shots, being held to 11 shots through two periods. It's crazy to think that the power play was actually halfway decent, hitting the post twice and providing some of the only great chances despite failing to convert. It was a truly baffling effort.

While they trailed 2-0 after the first period after a pair of redirections, the Canes had a chance to completely change the game with their 5-on-3 kill early in the second. Showcasing the league's best penalty kill, they were clinical despite continued pressure. Then, even they crumbled tonight, allowing two goals to Montreal's power play to help put the game out of reach. While the Canes were limited to 11 shots through two periods, Montreal only had ten, yet they had three goals. Frederik Andersen only seemed to be faced with high-danger scoring chances tonight. Two goals were deflections. One was all about Juraj Slafkovsky's net-front presence. The Suzuki goal was one he should probably stop, but what good is nitpicking one goal when the rest of the group failed to help him out.

All of this leads to the most pressing question in the world: what's it going to take to turn this thing around? Under normal circumstances, I'd rely on the head coach to have a plan. I'm to the point where I'm not sure. Before we get too off track, I'm not suggesting the team fire Rod Brind'Amour. However, the gameplan tonight better not be one we return to anytime in the near or distant future. As much as it goes against what I typically believe, I think you have to stick Aho and Rantanen back together and tell them they have to figure this out. That's the only real hope they have at the moment because I can't trust anyone else to lead the charge, outside of maybe Seth Jarvis. It's going to get better because it can't get much worse. 

When We Meet Again- It'll be about a month before the Canadiens make their only trip to Raleigh this season. They'll be at the Lenovo Center on March 28th for the second game of a four-game homestand for the Canes.

Checking In on the Playoff Picture

Washington (38-12-8, 84 Points, 14 Points Ahead for 1st)- The Capitals finally lost a game, dropping a rare home decision in regulation to the Flames tonight, 3-1. Alex Ovechkin, who recorded a hat trick over the weekend, scored the lone Washington goal to move another goal closer to the Great One.

New Jersey (32-21-6, 70 Points, 0 Points Behind the Canes for 2nd)- The Devils bounced back on Sunday night, shutting out the Nashville Predators 5-0 as Nico Daws made 29 stops. The win moved the Devils into a tie with the Canes, though Carolina has a game in hand.

The Road Ahead- It's time for some home cooking. The Canes will play seven of their next eight games at the Lenovo Center, beginning with a three-game homestand of Buffalo, Edmonton, and Calgary. After a quick trip to Detroit next week, they'll return for another homestand. This will be four straight at home against Boston, Winnipeg, Tampa Bay, and Detroit.