Hurricanes' Playoff Hopes Hang in Balance After Disappointing Start in Game 1 of East Final The Carolina Hurricanes faced a tough reality check in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens, falling behind early and struggling to find their rhythm. Despite a valiant effort, the Hurricanes were ultimately doomed by a slow start, which saw them trail 3-0 by the end of the first period. The Canadiens' dominant performance set the tone for the rest of the game, with the Hurricanes ultimately falling 3-1. As the series shifts to Montreal, the Hurricanes will look to regroup and mount a comeback in Game 2, but a slow start in a best-of-seven series can be a difficult hole to dig out of. Can they right the ship and even the series, or will the Canadiens' strong start prove to be too much to overcome?

Hurricanes doomed by slow start against Canadiens in Game 1 of East Final  NHL.com