In a thrilling Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, Sebastian Aho emerged as the hero for the Carolina Hurricanes, securing an overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens with a final score of 3-2. This win marks back-to-back overtime victories for the Hurricanes, who have now reclaimed home ice advantage, leading the series 2-1.
Game Overview
The action unfolded at the Bell Centre, where Shayne Gostisbehere ignited the scoring for the Hurricanes at 8:24 of the first period. After a shot from Mark Jankowski deflected off Kirby Dach’s stick, Gostisbehere seized the opportunity, firing the puck past sprawling Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobeš.
Montreal responded strongly, with Mike Matheson leveling the game at 15:28. Receiving a pass from Ivan Demidov behind the goal line, Matheson delivered a powerful wrist shot that found its way past Carolina's netminder Frederik Andersen.
MIKE MATHESON TIES IT UP FOR THE CANADIENS 🎉pic.twitter.com/IPp2DLgG0J
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 26, 2026
Shortly after, Taylor Hall restored the Hurricanes' lead in the first period, jamming the puck home while being taken down. This back-and-forth continued into the second period, where Lane Hutson scored for the Canadiens during a power play. Hutson’s goal came from a beautifully executed sequence involving Cole Caufield, resulting in a well-placed shot that tied the game again at 2-2.
LANE HUTSON CAPS OFF A BEAUTIFUL SEQUENCE BY THE CANADIENS 🎉
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 26, 2026
TIE GAME IN MONTREAL! pic.twitter.com/cmolzzmGTe
The physical play heightened as the game progressed, particularly in a late second-period incident involving Sean Walker crashing into Dobeš, reminiscent of Carey Price's 2014 playoff injury. Although Dobeš remained in the game, Walker was penalized for goaltender interference, and Jake Evans received a penalty for retaliating against Walker.
As the third period unfolded, the Canadiens appeared poised to take their first lead. Noah Dobson executed a give-and-go with Caufield that led to a pass for Juraj Slafkovsky's tap-in. However, a challenge from Hurricanes’ head coach Rob Brind'Amour revealed an offside call on Caufield prior to the goal, keeping the score tied 2-2.
After a tense 60 minutes, the game went into overtime for the second consecutive match, with the Canadiens managing only 12 shots on goal, a match record for shots in an overtime playoff game.
In overtime, the Hurricanes clinched victory after the Canadiens failed to clear their zone. Andrei Svechnikov received the puck and wristed a shot that deflected off Aho and into the net, sealing the game for Carolina.
Dobeš recorded 35 saves on 38 shots, while Andersen notched 10 saves on 12 shots to secure the win. This marked the first instance in this playoffs that the Canadiens lost back-to-back games, putting them at a 2-1 deficit in the series. Game 4 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 27, at the Bell Centre.
National Anthem Incident
Before the game, a notable moment occurred when Habs fans spontaneously sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” after a microphone failure disrupted the planned rendition. Quebec singer Éléonore Lagacé, joined by three backup vocalists, initiated the anthem but quickly lost sound, prompting fans at the Bell Centre to carry the tune. This moment of unity lasted for about five seconds until the sound returned.
The performance of “O Canada” followed, and Lagacé’s rallying call of “êtes-vous prêts, Montreal!” effectively engaged the fans for an electrifying finale to the national anthems. This positive reception sharply contrasted last year's booing of the U.S. anthem amid political tensions during a USA-Canada exhibition game.
Interestingly, this incident resonated with a recent episode from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, where fans similarly sang “O Canada” following a microphone failure before a playoff matchup between the Sabres and Boston Bruins.
