The Eastern Conference Final moves north to Montreal in the early house of Tuesday as the Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes clash at the Bell Centre with their tussle tied at a game apiece.
After a 6-2 loss in Game 1, the pressure was well and truly on the Hurricanes in Game 2 and they responded well as Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice, including the overtime winner, to give his team a 3-2 win and even the series heading to Canada.
Carolina will be looking to extend their perfect start to the postseason on the road, winning all four outings in Ottawa and Philadelphia thus far, while Montreal have managed just a pair of home ice wins in six outings against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres.
Montreal Canadiens v Carolina Hurricanes Tips Summary
Best Bet – Montreal Canadiens ML @ 23/20
Alternative Bet – Lane Hutson 2+ points @ 11/4
Bet Builder – Both Teams to Score at Least 2 Goals, Nikolaj Ehlers to Score a Goal, Alexandre Carrier 1+ Assists & Cole Caufield 2+ Shots on Goal @ 17/1
Montreal Canadiens v Carolina Hurricanes Prediction
Best Bet – Montreal Canadiens ML @ 23/20
Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final takes place in Montreal in the early hours of Tuesday and the Canadiens are fancied to reassert their advantage over the Hurricanes.
The Canes needed an overtime goal from Ehlers to tie the series at the Lenovo Center in Game 2, with real tension in the arena as the series threatened to get away from them.
Away from their Raleigh home, the Canes have won all of their postseason games but making it 5-5 in Quebec won't be straightforward.
Montreal have won five of the last six meetings, averaging 4.5 goals per game, and have taken victory in each of the last three games at the Bell Centre. The Habs can make home-ice count again.
Alternative Bet: Lane Hutson 2+ points @ 11/4
Lane Hutson took a big hit in Game 2 but the Habs defenceman is set to be passed fit as the series moves north.
Hutson has at least one assist in seven of his past 10 games in the playoffs for the Canadiens. Hutson is getting more minutes than anyone on the roster and head coach Martin St. Louis is doing his best to put Hutson in positions to create offensive gains.
He's got nine assists in 10 games lately, with four in five at home, and could prove pivotal here as he looks to avenge the crushing OT hit laid on him by Taylor Hall in Game 2.
Montreal Canadiens v Carolina Hurricanes Bet Builder Tip
- Both Teams to Score at Least 2 Goals
- Nikolaj Ehlers to Score a Goal
- Alexandre Carrier 1+ Assists
- Cole Caufield 2+ Shots on Goal
Pays 17/1
Both games in the Lenovo Center saw each time hitting multiple goals and that trend can continue.
Montreal are averaging 4.5 goals per game in the last six home tussles with the Canes, while the visiting side has lit the lamp at least twice in 10 of the last 11 meetings in the Bell Centre.
The Canes put a big target on free agent Nikolaj Ehlers last summer and the dynamic Dane is repaying their faith with a double in Game 2, including a superb finish for the decisive moment. He can find the net again.
Alexandre Carrier has assists in four of his last five outings and can provide another for the hosts, who should also see the outstanding Cole Caufield land at least two shots at goal, something he has managed in three of his last five games.
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Key Match Stats
- Carolina Hurricanes have won all four postseason games played away from home so far
- Montreal Canadiens are 2-4 at home in the postseason, losing four games to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres
- Lane Hutson has at least one assist in seven of his past 10 games in the playoffs for the Canadiens
- Cole Caufield has found the scoresheet in four of five games against the Hurricanes this season for Montreal
- Montreal have conceded an average of 3.17 goals at Bell Centre during the play-offs, while the Hurricanes have allowed a total of six goals in their quartet of games on the road
- Montreal have won five of the last six meetings, averaging 4.5 goals per game, while they have won the last three at Bell Centre by at least two goals
Tactics, Form and Team News
The Canes emerged from Game 2 with no injury worries and move north with a clean bill of health. Lane Hutson looked shaken after a big hit in OT in that contest but is reported to have escaped any serious injury concerns and is expected to line out again.
Read more NHL betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
