In a commanding performance, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the struggling Montreal Canadiens 4-1, marking their tenth win in 12 games. Taylor Hall and Sebastian Aho each scored crucial goals in the second period, with Hall netting his 17th of the season and Aho following shortly after to extend the lead. Andrei Svechnikov, returning from injury, added an empty-net goal to seal the game. The Canadiens, who started strong with a goal from Josh Anderson, could not maintain momentum and have now lost five consecutive games.

Carolina's consistent play has given them solid footing for home-ice advantage in the playoffs, while Montreal clings to the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The game also featured a noteworthy return, as defenseman Kaiden Guhle came back after a lengthy injury absence. With the Hurricanes hosting the New York Islanders next, they'll look to continue their winning streak.