Preview: ECF, Game 4 at Montreal

MONTREAL - The Carolina Hurricanes will look to push the Montreal Canadiens to the brink of elimination when they go head-to-head at Bell Centre for Game 4 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Final.

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When: Wednesday, May 27

Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET

Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max; SN, CBC, TVAS

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Series: 2-1 CAR

The Series So Far...

• Game 1: Seth Jarvis struck in the first minute, but the Canadiens roared back with four first-period goals and cruised to a 6-2 victory.
• Game 2: Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice, including the overtime winner, to give his team a 3-2 win and even the series.
• Game 3: Andrei Svechnikov bagged Carolina's second OT dagger of the series to lift his team to a 3-2 victory and a 2-1 series lead.

Overtime Is Canes Time...

• With Monday's victory, the Canes have won each of their last six playoff games that have required overtime, dating to Game 5 of the 2025 First Round against the Devils. Now 6-0 in their last six playoff overtimes, they've matched their longest winning streak in franchise playoff history from Game 5 of the 2021 First Round to Game 5 of the 2023 Second Round.
• Andrei Svechnikov's first career overtime playoff goal also made them the fourth team in NHL history to win each of their first five or more overtime games in a single postseason. They've joined the 2023 Panthers (7), 2003 Mighty Ducks (7), and 2011 Sharks (5).

By The Numbers...

• Through three games, the Canes are outhitting Montreal 127-65. Jordan Staal leads all skaters in the conference finals round with 24.
• Carolina is also outshooting Montreal 93-47. Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov drive the bus with 10 each.

In Net...

• Frederik Andersen once again faced a lighter-than-usual workload with 11 saves on 13 shots in Game 3, but was praised postgame by Rod Brind'Amour, who noted the importance of having a goaltender who can navigate difficult games in which he doesn't see a ton of rubber.
• "That's the right guy for us in this situation because he is just calm," said Brind'Amour of Andersen. "Whether we're giving up 30 shots a night or whatever it was tonight (13), he's going to be the same. That's kind of what you want to see out of him."
• Brandon Bussi would likely be the next expected option in the event Andersen needs a break. The first-year backstop wrapped up the regular season on a heater, following up his first set of consecutive losses (0-3-0) with a 6-0-1 run and allowing two or fewer goals in four of those wins.
• Pyotr Kochetkov also remains waiting in the wings. Although he made two conditioning loan starts with Chicago (AHL) in April, following multiple lower-body surgeries this winter, his last NHL action came on Dec. 20.

On The Other Side...

• Although they've been held to a combined 25 shots over the last eight periods, the Canadiens have been just one away from winning both.
• In Game 3, a turnover in their own end haunted them, as earlier goal-scorer Lane Hutson accidentally gave a puck to Andrei Svechnikov in the neutral zone.
• Goaltender Jakub Dobes was outstanding once again in the latest contest, turning away 36 shots over 74 minutes of work.
• Now trailing in the series for the first time, Martin St. Louis was honest as he met with the media on Tuesday, but also tried to keep his team's spirits high. "I expect us to show up," the head coach said of Game 4. "We’re behind, but we’re not dead. We continue."

Injury Updates...

• The Canes currently do not have any injuries at this time.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes will wear their WHITE uniforms for the contest. They will wear black for every home game and white for every road game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes will return to Raleigh on Thursday before hosting the Habs for Game 5 on Friday.
• Next Home Game: Friday, May 29 | ECF, Game 5 vs. Montreal | 8:00 p.m. ET How To Watch | Tickets | Parking