Hurricanes beat Canadiens in overtime again, take series lead | Highlights
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Hurricanes beat Canadiens in overtime again, take series lead | Highlights
Mike Brehm, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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3 min read
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TheCarolina Hurricaneshave taken the lead in the Eastern Conference finals because they have figured out how to win the territorial battle and the overtime.
Game 3 was the second consecutive overtime game in the series and the Hurricanes prevailed again, this time on anAndrei Svechnikovgoal, for a3-2 victoryand a 2-1 series lead.
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The Hurricanes have found their game again after a6-2 blowout lossin the opener that could have been the result of 11 days off followingback-to-back sweeps.
But the past two games have seen a return to Hurricanes hockey of aggressive forechecking and firing plenty of shots. It was evident from the start of Game 2, in which Carolina outshotMontreal26-12. It was more pronounced in Game 3 with a 38-13 shot edge. And that was with Montreal blocking 33 shots.
Hurricanes defensemanShayne Gostisbehereopened the scoring in the first period, butMike Mathesontied it for Montreal.Taylor Hallscored less than a minute later to put Carolina ahead 2-1 before the end of the period.
The NHL has announced the winners for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here's who won plus vote totals:
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
Hart Trophy (MVP) winner: Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, 1,436 points
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
Hart runner-up: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, 1,426 points
(Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)
Hart finalist: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, 1,297 points
NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Philadelphia Flyers left wing Garrett Wilson
(Robert Edwards, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
49/57
NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington
(Connor Hamilton, Imagn Images)
50/57
NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: San Jose Sharks goalie Laurent Brossoit
(Walter Tychnowicz, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle
(Matt Blewett, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh
(Keito Newman, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson
(Stan Szeto, Imagn Images)
54/57
NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen
(Bob Frid, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin
(Danny Wild, Danny Wild-Imagn Images)
Lane Hutsontied the game in the second period and a waved-off Montreal goal (for offsides) forced the20th overtime gameof the 2026 NHL playoffs.
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Though the Canadiens had a couple early chances, Carolina outshot them 6-1 in the extra period.
The winning play started when Carolina intercepted a pass and entered the zone.Seth Jarvisfound Svechnikov, whose shot beat a screenedJakub Dobes.Sebastian Aho, was battlingJuraj Slafkovskyfor position in front of Dobes, was initially awarded the goal but it later was given to Svechnikov.
"There's a chance that it went off my hip," Aho told TNT. "But I don't care who gets the goal. We'll take the win."
The Hurricanes improved to 5-0 in overtime this postseason while the Canadiens fell to 3-4.
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Montreal also fell to 2-5 at home. The Canadiens will have to figure out to beat the Hurricanes' aggressive forecheck, as they did in Game 1, if they are going to be able to tie the series in Game 4 on Wednesday, May 27.
Here are highlights from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals:
Final score: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
The Hurricanes dominate in shots for the second game in a row. The Canadiens push it to overtime for the second game in a row. And the Hurricanes prevail again for a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
Andrei Svechnikov scores
The Hurricanes enter the zone after a turnover and the puck eventually gets to Andrei Svechnikov, whose shot beats a screened Jakub Dobes at 14:06 of overtime. Sebastian Aho, who had been setting the screen, was originally awarded the goal, but it was changed to Svechnikov.
Missed penalty?
The Canadiens appeared to have too many men on the ice, but the on-ice officials huddle and nothing is called.
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Midway through overtime
Carolina leads 5-0 in shots in overtime as the ice crews come out to scrape the ice.
Jakub Dobes save
Jakub Dobes makes a shoulder save asJalen Chatfieldgets off a shot on a 3-on-2 break.
3 minutes in
The Canadiens have had the best chances.Nick Suzukimisses on a breakaway and Mike Matheson hits the crossbar.
Hurricanes, Canadiens overtime records
Hurricanes are 4-0 and Canadiens are 3-3 in the 2026 playoffs.
