The highly anticipated NHL playoffs are underway, and the Montreal Canadiens are off to a strong start after a thrilling Game 1 matchup against the Hurricanes. In a back-and-forth contest, the Canadiens emerged victorious, taking the first game 6-3. As the series shifts to Raleigh for Game 2, fans are eager to see how the Hurricanes will respond to the early setback. In this in-depth analysis, ESPN's experts break down the key takeaways from Game 1, handing out grades to the top performers and providing an early look at what to expect from the crucial second game of the series.

Hurricanes-Canadiens Game 1 takeaways, grades, early look at Game 2  ESPN