Hurricanes swept, Canadiens fought through Game 7s

The Carolina Hurricanes have showcased their playoff dominance by sweeping their previous series, while the Montreal Canadiens have demonstrated remarkable resilience by winning two Game 7s to reach this stage.

The Hurricanes earned their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals after a nine-day wait following their series victory, while the Canadiens just defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime, with Alex Newhook scoring the decisive goal.

The contrast in the playoff journeys—Carolina's unblemished record and Montreal's battle-tested grit—sets an intriguing stage for their upcoming matchup, which will begin Thursday night for a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.