Special teams set the tone for the evening as Carolina's second-ranked overall power play got the scoring going. Nino Niederreiter found a loose puck on the doorstep at 10:46 to make it 1-0 with the man advantage.
Less than three minutes later the Carolina penalty kill doubled the Hurricanes lead. Teuvo Teravainen one-timed the puck past Sam Montembeault shorthanded to make it 2-0.
The Hurricanes took three consecutive penalties to end the opening frame, but the Canadiens could not capitalize despite testing Antti Raanta nine times.
The Habs started the second on the power play, but it was Carolina who would score again with the man advantage in the middle frame.
Teravainen tallied his second of the night at 17:01 with Jake Evans in the box for hooking, following two solid penalty kills by the visitors earlier in the period.
Brendan Gallagher notably did not finish the period, and did not return for the third.
