Five keys to the Habs getting past the Canes

On Thursday night, the third round Conference Final series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes will get underway at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Canadiens made it to this series after eliminating the veteran Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1, and the division winning Buffalo Sabres in Round 2, needing seven games to move on in each series. Carolina had a considerably easier path, sweeping both the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Here are five keys to the Habs getting past the Canes.

Win the rest versus rust debate.

It feels like the Hurricanes have not played a game since Easter. The truth is not that stark, but there is no doubt the team is well rested and has had an embarrassing amount of time to prepare for the Conference Final.

Have the Canes passed the rest versus rust tipping point? I’m not sure I buy it, but if rust is a thing the Habs need to pounce on it in Game 1. Montreal screwed the pooch in the first game against Buffalo and, as Jakub Dobes said, they need to learn from that and bring a much better start to this series.

Doing so requires the coach make good decisions about inserting guys who have their legs for Game 1.

Find the right mix in the top six.

Before the first round, I said the coach had to find a productive mix in the middle six. Before the second round I said one key was the emergence of the top line. Here we are, heading into the third round, and the Suzuki line has not taken off. In the meanwhile, a second line centered by Jake Evans, no less, has been effective.

Is it time for St. Louis to break up the top line?

Each new series produces a new dynamic, and there is an argument for giving them another game against new competition. Perhaps the solution is the approach St. Louis used in Game 5 in Tampa – a line blender approach that confuses the Carolina game plan, while also allowing fresh chemistry to develop.

Create some serious traffic in front of Freddie Andersen.

We have been begging the Habs to crash the net of each goalie they’ve faced, and now would be a good time to seriously buy in. Andersen has played well for the Canes and Montreal needs to interrupt that. Brendan Gallagher, you’re wanted on Line 4.

Trust more balance on D.

In Game 7 against Buffalo, Arber Xhekaj played 1:52. Mike Matheson played 31:28. Neither of those things are good for the Habs.

As the games get more important, it’s clear Marty has incredible trust in Matheson and very little trust in Xhekaj. Yet, he didn’t replace Xhekaj in the line-up, perhaps wanting an enforcement option should that become necessary. The coach will need to rethink his strategy heading into Raleigh.

St. Louis has relied heavily on his top four of Hutson, Dobson, Matheson and Carrier. They have played very well, along with Guhle. They need to insert someone the coach can trust for a minimum of 10-12 minutes per game. The playoffs are too long and the physical rigours are too real.

Find a way to shut down Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

Okay, now I’m just being an ass. But take this as a reminder of the rivalry that has existed between these two clubs. This could get intense.

Go Habs Go!