The Montreal Canadiens' season hangs in the balance as they face off against the Hurricanes in a crucial Game 5 of their playoff series. Despite a strong start to the series, the Canadiens have struggled to maintain momentum, with the Hurricanes taking a commanding lead. In this latest installment, ESPN breaks down the key takeaways from the game, including standout performances and areas for improvement. The outlet also hands out grades to the key players and coaches, providing insight into what went right and what went wrong. As the series shifts back to Montreal, the Canadiens will look to regroup and mount a comeback, but the Hurricanes are poised to take control of the series.

Hurricanes-Canadiens Game 5 takeaways, grades, and a look ahead for both  ESPN