Hurricanes Stumble Against Surging Canadiens

Carolina's back-to-back woes continue as Montreal rallies with three second-period goals

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:05am

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The Carolina Hurricanes fell to the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 on Sunday, their second loss in a back-to-back set this season. Despite outshooting the Canadiens 35-18, the Hurricanes were undone by a three-goal outburst from Montreal in the second period, including a pair of tallies from center Nick Suzuki.

Why it matters

The loss was the Hurricanes' third against the Canadiens this season, highlighting Carolina's struggles in the second game of back-to-back sets. With the playoffs looming, the Hurricanes will need to find a way to manage their schedule and maintain their intensity over the final stretch of the regular season.

The details

Andrei Svechnikov gave the Hurricanes an early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal in the first period, but the Canadiens stormed back in the second. Suzuki scored twice, including a late power-play marker, while Cole Caufield also found the back of the net to give Montreal a 3-1 advantage heading into the third period. The Hurricanes were unable to mount a comeback despite outshooting the Canadiens and going 1-for-3 on the power play.

  • The Hurricanes' loss to the Canadiens was the second game of a back-to-back set for Carolina.
  • With nine games remaining in the regular season, the Hurricanes are vying for the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

The players

Andrei Svechnikov

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who scored the team's lone goal in the first period.

Nick Suzuki

A center for the Montreal Canadiens who scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the second period.

Cole Caufield

A forward for the Montreal Canadiens who scored a goal and assisted on one of Suzuki's tallies.

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What’s next

The Hurricanes will look to bounce back in their next game against the Boston Bruins on April 1st as they continue their push for the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

The Hurricanes' loss to the surging Canadiens highlights the challenges of navigating a condensed NHL schedule, especially in the second game of back-to-back sets. As the playoffs approach, Carolina will need to find ways to maintain their intensity and execution over the final stretch of the regular season.