The Eastern Conference finals are all tied up after two thrilling games. Thanks to the brilliance of Nikolaj Ehlers, the Carolina Hurricanes picked up a crucial win in Game 2 to even the series as it shifts to Montreal.
In Game 2 the Montreal Canadiens once again gave up the first goal inside the first five minutes. As they have done all playoffs long, they responded. Josh Anderson received a bit of a fortunate bounce to tie the game in the first period.
In the middle frame it was not until a late individual effort by Ehlers that the Hurricanes regained the lead. But once again the Habs responded, this time by way of Anderson. Anderson and the Habs battled hard in front of Frederik Andersen for a loose puck to tie the game and send it to overtime.
It did not take long for the Canes to secure the overtime victory. Just 3:29 into the extra frame Ehlers found himself with time, space and plenty of speed. When Ehlers has his feet moving it spells trouble for his opposition. Ehlers walked into the Canadiens zone and rifled a wrist shot past Jakub Dobes.
The Canadiens were limited to just 12 shots on goal in Game 2, with seven coming in the third period while they were trailing. It has been a common theme for the Canadiens: struggling to generate scoring chances in big games. It has not caught up to them yet, but they are playing with fire.
With the series now heading to Montreal, attention turns back to the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche. Vegas looks to take a commanding 3-0 series lead while the Avalanche desperately needs to find a way to put themselves back in the series.
May 24 NHL Playoff Schedule
Time is listed in eastern time.
- Game 3: Colorado at Vegas, Sunday, May 24, 8 p.m. (SN, CBC, TVAS)
Eastern Conference Final: Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (A3)
The series stands tied at one game apiece following an intense opening pair of contests.
- Game 1: Montreal 6, Carolina 2
- Game 2: Carolina 3, Montreal 2 (OT)
Game 3 odds on BetMGM: Montreal (+215), Carolina (+172).
Western Conference Final: Colorado Avalanche (C1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P1)
Vegas has seized early control of the series and will look to extend its advantage on home ice.
- Game 1: Vegas 4, Colorado 2
- Game 2: Vegas 3, Colorado 1
Game 3 odds on BetMGM: Vegas (+218), Colorado (+170).
Leading Scorers
The top point producers through the first two rounds highlight the impact of star players still in the hunt.
- Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights: 19 points, 14 games
- Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights: 18 points, 14 games (tied)
- Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens: 16 points, 16 games (tied)
- Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild: 15 points, 11 games (tied)
- Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild: 15 points, 11 games (tied)
- Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres: 15 points, 13 games (tied)
The action on May 24 will feature the Western Conference final resuming in Las Vegas. A strong performance there could put the Golden Knights within one victory of the Stanley Cup Final. For the Avalanche the focus remains on generating consistent offense and finding ways to exploit any lapses in Vegas defensive structure.
The Eastern Conference series moves to Montreal for Game 3 on May 25. The Canadiens will rely on home-ice energy and their proven ability to bounce back after early deficits. Carolina will aim to maintain its strong road form and lean on Ehlers’ dynamic playmaking to seize momentum once again.
These conference finals promise continued high-stakes hockey with both series offering compelling storylines. The coming days will reveal which teams can sustain their playoff form and advance to the final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.