There is a lot of history between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes. That offer sheet to Sebastian Aho won’t soon be forgotten, nor will the Canes' poaching of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, even though that turned out well for the Habs. Every time the two sides face each other, though, there’s a bit of a spotlight on both players.
This past season, the Habs came out on top when facing the Hurricanes; they outscored them 9-6 in the three-game season series and had a 2-0-1 record. This came from the Canadiens’ best players outplaying the Canes’ and from Samuel Montembeault outdueling Frederik Andersen.
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The first game took place on February 25, and the Canadiens signed a 4-0 win, thanks to a 20-save shutout from Montembeault and Nick Suzuki flying out of the gate after his 4 Nations Face-Off snub and his talk with Kent Hughes requesting that he didn’t trade anyone. The captain stepped up to the challenge with three points, one goal, and a pair of helpers as the Habs converted two out of their five power play opportunities. Freshly back from the international tournament, Patrik Laine matched Suzuki’s input on that night.
Just over a month later, the Canes got their revenge with a 4-1 win in which their best players stepped up while Montreal’s had a poor showing. Montembeault faced 25 shots while the Canadiens could only test Andersen 15 times. The Tricolore started the game well with a goal just 23 seconds in through Josh Anderson, but Carolina then scored four unanswered goals, the last of which came in an empty net to skate away with the two points.
The final duel came on the very last day of the season as the Habs desperately needed a point to qualify for the playoffs while the Hurricanes were resting a couple of key players in Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. With the stakes being so high, Suzuki once again stepped up, scoring two goals while Kaiden Guhle had a goal and an assist in the 4-2 win. Montembeault faced 29 shots and was only beaten twice as the Habs only took 21 shots on Pyotr Kochetkov, but that was enough to score three goals before adding an empty netter.
Throughout the season series, Suzuki led the charge for the Canadiens, stepping up at every turn; meanwhile, Aho and Svechnikov were limited to a single point in the two games they took part in. Montembeault, who historically struggled against the Canes, shone brightly, posting a .934 save percentage in the season series and allowing the Canadiens to win games in which they weren’t necessarily the better side.
This season, the Hurricanes will pose even more of a threat after signing free agent Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year deal. The winger should help bolster their attack and alleviate some of the pressure from Aho and Svechnikov’s shoulders. Carolina also improved its blueline when it acquired K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers for two draft picks and defenseman Scott Morrow. The Canes also traded with the Habs this offseason, acquiring Cayden Primeau, before signing him to a one-year, one-way contract, but it’s hard to imagine him supplanting one of their two current goaltenders. Andersen is, however, playing on a one-year deal, and at 35 years old and with a lengthy injury history, he could be retiring sooner rather than later.
Eric Tulsky has had a busy offseason, extending two key young players with an eight-year deal. Logan Stankoven, whom the Canes acquired after Mikko Rantanen refused to sign with them long term, and Jackson Blake. The latter has a $5.1 M AAV after just one season in which he put up 34 points. As for the former, he gets a $6 M AAV after just 102 NHL games of experience and 52 points. While these may seem like significant commitments in a hurry, it’s important to remember that this is the team that gave an eight-year deal to an unproven Jesperi Kotkaniemi and has reportedly been trying to trade him for some time.
If Montembeault can keep up his strong play, games between the two sides should be a treat this upcoming season as they both added some firepower up front.
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