Carolina Hurricanes seize 2-1 series lead over Montreal Canadiens with overtime win

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3‑2 in overtime in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, giving them a 2‑1 lead in the best‑of‑seven series. Andrei Svechnikov scored the winning goal at 14:06 of overtime after a wrist shot deflected off goaltender Jakub Dobes. The win marked the Hurricanes’ second consecutive overtime victory, following an OT win two days earlier, and made them the fourth team in NHL history to win each of their first five overtime games in a single postseason.

Carolina outshot Montreal 64‑26 over the past two games and has gone 10‑1 overall in the playoffs. The Hurricanes have now recorded five overtime wins in this postseason, while Montreal has suffered back‑to‑back overtime losses for the first time in 17 playoff games. The series shifts to Montreal for Game 4, with the Hurricanes aiming to extend their lead.

Key figures highlighted include forward Andrei Svechnikov, who delivered the decisive goal, and veteran Sebastian Aho, who emphasized the team’s consistent process. Montreal’s coach Martin St. Louis noted the need for complete execution to counter Carolina’s aggressive pace.