Hurricanes eliminate Canadiens 6-1 in Game 5, fans proud of team’s run

The Montreal Canadiens’ surprising playoff run came to an end Friday night, but for many fans, pride outweighed disappointment.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Canadiens 6-1 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final at Lenovo Center, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006 and eliminating Canada’s last remaining team in the NHL playoffs.

While the final score was lopsided, the Canadiens’ appearance in the conference final marked a significant step for a young team that entered the postseason with modest expectations before defeating both Tampa Bay and Buffalo in seven-game series victories.

---

Hurricanes seize control early

Carolina wasted little time taking command of the decisive game.

Taylor Hall opened the scoring midway through the first period after a scramble in front of Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobeš. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis challenged the play for goaltender interference, but officials upheld the goal following a review.

The Hurricanes doubled their lead less than six minutes later when Logan Stankoven found space in front and beat Dobeš. Eric Robinson added another goal just 1:40 later, giving Carolina a 3-0 advantage before the end of the opening frame.

The Hurricanes continued to press in the second period. Jackson Blake capitalized on a rebound after Hall generated a scoring chance off the rush, and Shayne Gostisbehere added another goal to make it 5-0.

Cole Caufield finally broke Frederik Andersen’s shutout bid midway through the third period with a power-play goal, ending the Carolina netminder’s shutout streak at 160 minutes and 16 seconds.

Seth Jarvis sealed the victory with an empty-net goal late in the game.

Dobeš finished with 23 saves on 28 shots, while Andersen stopped 23 of 24 shots for Carolina.

---

Carolina breaks through

The victory sends the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time since the franchise relocated from Hartford to North Carolina before the 1997-98 season.

Carolina rebounded from a Game 1 loss in the series to win four consecutive games, relying on relentless pressure and disciplined defensive play that limited Montreal’s scoring opportunities.

The Hurricanes entered the series carrying a difficult history in the Eastern Conference Final. Under head coach Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina had previously been swept by Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023 before losing to the Panthers again in five games last season.

This time, the Hurricanes broke through.

Hall and Stankoven each finished with a goal and two assists in Game 5, helping Carolina secure its first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 20 years.

The Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights, with both franchises seeking their second Stanley Cup championship.

---

Fans remain proud despite defeat

As the final seconds ticked away, disappointment among Canadiens supporters was accompanied by appreciation for a team that exceeded expectations throughout the spring.

Montreal entered the Eastern Conference Final after surviving two seven-game series and playing 18 playoff games since April 19. Carolina, meanwhile, had swept its first two opponents and arrived considerably more rested.

The Canadiens won the opening game of the series, but Carolina responded with four straight victories, using its depth and defensive structure to take control.

Even in defeat, many fans viewed the playoff run as a sign of progress for one of the NHL’s youngest teams.

The journey ended one step short of the Stanley Cup Final, but after a postseason that featured dramatic Game 7 victories and an unexpected run deep into May, Canadiens supporters left with reasons to believe the future remains bright.

One fan believed Montreal needed to generate more offence to have a chance against Carolina.

“The obvious thing would be to shoot more,” he said. “Cycling the puck around the net is not going to do it. The last three games, you’re looking at 12, 13, 15 shots. We nee d more shots. Take those shots from wherever you can.”

Still, he said the playoff run should be viewed as a success.

“I’m not disappointed. I’m happy that they made it this far,” he said. “It’s going to be a great experience for our young guys over the next few years, and we’ll take it from there.”

Another supporter said the Canadiens exceeded expectations throughout the season.

“For this series, I believe they could have made a few lineup changes,” he said. “But honestly, I am quite happy with the Habs this season. We went further than anyone thought we would. We fought as underdogs since the first series.”

Despite the elimination, he said there was plenty to celebrate.

“Of course, I’m proud of the team,” he said. “We went further than we ever hoped we could this year. With a new team, we really did better than anyone could think.”

While disappointed the season had come to an end, he remained optimistic.

“I do feel a bit disappointed, but honestly, I’m still proud of what we’ve accomplished,” he said. “We’ll see next year.”

Some fans said the playoff run was about more than hockey.

One woman described the postseason as a shared community experience.

“I’m a little bit sad, but it was nice to have the collective experience,” she said.

Another fan called the season memorable despite the ending.

“I think it was a magical season,” she said. “I’m very grateful that we got to live the playoffs this year. It hasn’t happened in a while… There were so many exciting moments, so I’m very happy and very hopeful for the future.”

Another supporter described the defeat as difficult but said it did not diminish her pride in the team.

“Very sad, very disappointed, but I was here to support them anyway,” she said. “I’m very, very proud. Tonight was not their night, but that’s okay. There’s always next season.”

A fellow fan echoed that sentiment.

“I’m really proud of them,” she said. “They did so good for such a young team… They did amazing. Really proud of them. Really happy.”

She credited Carolina’s experience for the outcome.

“I think they did really well and just came up against a really tough team, a really experienced team,” she said. “Sometimes that’s the way it goes.”

Looking ahead, she sees brighter days ahead for Montreal.

“I think this is really just the start and a great way to start next year and build on it,” she said.

Another fan described the loss as disappointing but viewed the season as a major step forward for the organization.

“It’s an unfortunate end to an overall good season,” he said.

Asked what Montreal could have done differently, he pointed to Carolina’s defensive pressure.

“Carolina is a tough team,” he said. “They had them shut down every time. They had to get some more pucks on net, but Carolina made it hard to get those pucks on net. I don’t know if there was much more they could have done.”

Like many others, he believes the Canadiens’ future remains promising.

“We’re about a year or two away from being contenders,” he said. “We’re going to lose some big contracts off the books soon, so the future’s bright.”