Nikolaj Ehlers’ overtime heroics evened the Eastern Conference Final, as the high-priced free agent’s two-goal performance silenced Montreal and shifted the momentum heading into a pivotal Game 3.
The Carolina Hurricanes have knotted their best-of-seven, Eastern Conference Final series with the Montreal Canadiens at one game apiece.
Thanks in large part to that of first-year forward Nikolaj Ehlers.
Photo by James Guillory/USA Today The 10-year Winnipeg Jets winger who walked away from Manitoba to sign a massive six-year, $51 million contract with the Hurricanes last summer, potted two goals for the Canes, included the overtime winner on Saturday night in the marquee matchup against Montreal.
After Eric Robinson opened the scoring for Carolina, it was Ehlers and Josh Anderson who exchanged goals between the two Eastern Conference clubs, with Anderson finding his fourth and fifth markers of the postseason, while Ehlers scored his third and fourth.
The overtime winner came just three-and-a-half minutes into extra time, as he beat Jakob Dobes from longer range after his first of the game came off a slick piece of edge work as he outmaneuvered the Habs' defence before sliding the puck along the ice into the cage.
Winnipeg, which missed Ehlers' secondary scoring tremendously this past season, continues to watch the postseason from the golf course as Ehlers' Canes have guaranteed at least a Game 5 in the series after falling behind 1-0 at the hands of the Canadiens following Game 1.
The series now shifts to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.