Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Previews, stats, schedule, bracketplayWhere P.K. Subban says the Canadiens have to improve (0:52)ESPN staffMay 27, 2026, 07:00 AM ETMultiple Authors
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One week into the conference finals round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, one series is already over, while the other seems much tighter through three contests.
After two straight overtime wins by the Carolina Hurricanes, will Game 4 be a series-evening victory for the host Montreal Canadiens? Or will it be another W for the Canes, who can then win the series on home ice in Game 5?
Here’s a look at key stats ahead of Wednesday’s matchup — plus a best bet — as well as highlights from Tuesday and updated playoff stats leaders.
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Wednesday’s schedule
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens
Game 4, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) | CAR leads 2-1
Teams with a 2-1 lead in best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series 69% of the time in Stanley Cup playoffs history, including all five teams to have gone up 2-1 in the 2026 playoffs.
The Hurricanes specifically have a 10-4 series record when going up 2-1 in a seven-game series.
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Andrei Svechnikov scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 3, which was the first such goal of his career.
Shayne Gostisbehere scored his first goal of the postseason, and this was just the second goal of the playoffs by a Hurricanes defenseman (through 11 games). The other was scored by Jalen Chatfield in Game 3 of the second-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Teammate Taylor Hall scored his fourth goal of the postseason in Game 3, and that’s one shy of his career high for a single postseason — he had five with the Boston Bruins in 2023.
Montreal’s Lane Hutson tallied a power-play goal and now has 20 points in 22 career playoff games. He tied Chris Chelios for the sixth-fewest games by a U.S.-born defenseman to record 20 career playoff points. The players ahead of Chelios and Hutson are Adam Fox (18 GP), Gary Suter (18), Quinn Hughes (20), Brian Leetch (20) and Jack Johnson (21).
Jakub Dobes didn’t get the win, but with an assist in Game 3 he became the first Canadiens goalie with a point in a playoff game since Jose Theodore in Game 3 of the 2004 conference quarterfinals.
Ivan Demidov now has nine points this postseason, tying Guy Lapointe (1971) for the 11th most in a single postseason by a Canadiens rookie. One more point would tie him for fifth on the list with Odie Cleghorn (1919), Howie Morenz (1924), Pierre Mondou (1978), Chelios (1984) and Jean Beliveau (1954).
Wednesday’s best bet
The bet: Hurricanes-Canadiens under 5.5 goals (-102)
If Games 2 and 3 proved anything, it’s that the wide-open, eight-goal explosion from the series opener was an anomaly. Both teams have locked down their defensive structures, turning this into a classic playoff grind. Carolina relies heavily on a suffocating puck-possession game, and its ability to limit Montreal to a microscopic two shots on goal across the entire third period and overtime of Game 3 shows just how quickly it can take the air out of a building. Combined with the exceptional play of Jakub Dobes in the Montreal net (who turned aside 35 of 38 shots Monday), goals are at an absolute premium.
Expect a tight, low-scoring affair Wednesday as Montreal plays desperate, disciplined defense to prevent falling into a 3-1 hole.
But offering up a total that is basically even odds is a bit dull. For a longer shot, you can pair it with the Hurricanes moneyline (-142) and Taylor Hall anytime goal scorer (+280) to bank on Carolina eventually breaking a low-scoring tie with its relentless depth. Hall fired a game-high seven shots on goal Monday. A parlay with those three comes out at +1,100. — Sean Allen
Tuesday’s scoreboard
Vegas Golden Knights 2, Colorado Avalanche 1
Golden Knights win 4-0
At the start of the series, many expected the Avalanche to take care of business; by the end, there was no doubt which was the better of the two teams. A goaltending change by Colorado — from Scott Wedgewood to MacKenzie Blackwood — would be a factor, as Blackwood had a series of incredible saves that kept the game close. Ultimately, the Golden Knights’ 200-foot game was too much for the Avs to overcome at either end of the ice.
Mark Stone kicked off the scoring at 4:42 of the first period with his fifth of the playoffs. That would be the only tally of the game until 14:15 of the third, when 2026 trade addition Cole Smith scored his third of the postseason to give the Knights some insurance. They’d need that insurance, as Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored a tip-in goal with Blackwood pulled at 17:57. That would be all Colorado could muster, and the Golden Knights are off to the Cup Final. Here’s a look at the Avs’ to-do list for the offseason. Full recap | Grades
Playoff scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAP1. Mitch Marner, F, Golden Knights
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
Playoff goaltending leaders
PlayerGPWGAASV%1. Arturs Silovs, Penguins
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
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