Canadiens need to make home ice advantage tonight against Hurricanes
Posted May 25, 2026 7:17 am.
Last Updated May 25, 2026 12:28 pm.
The Montreal Canadiens are likely starting to feel déjà vu all over again.
For the third time in as many rounds this NHL post-season, the Canadiens earned a split on the road in the opening two games.
The Habs split with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, then split with the Buffalo Sabres in the second round. And they opened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final series with a win and a loss against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
What they are hoping to do different against the top-seeded Hurricanes, however, is win two straight in Montreal, starting tonight. In other words, they need to make home ice an advantage, unlike the first two rounds when the Habs split their first two home games with the Lightning and Sabres, and then had to win Game 7s on the road to advance.
Montreal captain Nick Suzuki and winger Josh Anderson both said their young team “owe it to our fans” to win at home and embrace the energy and get off to much better starts.
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said after losing Saturday’s Game 2 in overtime: “We’re in a battle going back home. Our fans have watched us play three games in a row on the road. I’m sure they’ll be ready for us.”
“Montreal is really excited,” added Suzuki. “We’ll look to take care of that momentum (tonight) … We’re excited to get back home — we’re in a good spot.”
Oliver Kapanen out of lineup
The Montreal Canadiens are juggling their lineup as they look to bounce back at home.
Centre Oliver Kapanen won’t play Monday’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes (Sportsnet, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT), head coach Martin St. Louis told reporters.
Centre Joe Veleno practised with the regulars during the morning skate and looks to be replacing Kapanen in the lineup.
“Kappy (Oliver Kapanen) is going to be out tonight and it’s not necessarily for that (his turnover in OT of Game 2),” St. Louis told reporters. “We feel like Carolina bring a lot of heaviness and speed and I feel like Joey (Joe Veleno) can give us that.”
After a solid rookie season with the Habs, Kapanen has struggled to carry over his production to the playoffs as he remains without a point in seven games. He has been in and out of the lineup throughout the post-season but had played in Montreal’s previous three games.
In Saturday’s Game 2 overtime loss to Carolina, the Swede finished with a minus-2 in 10:01 of ice time.
Veleno, meanwhile, hasn’t played since Game 6 of the second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. In six games this post-season, the Montreal native has one assist and has averaged 9:40 of ice time.
