Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. Our featured game of this edition is the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth game of the Eastern Conference Final. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL Predictions: Canadiens vs Hurricanes, Game 5
Series: Carolina 3 – 1 Montreal
How to Watch: Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, CBC, TVA, HBO MAX, TNT, truTV
Time: 8 pm EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)
The Carolina Hurricanes have the Canadiens on the brink after winning both games in Montreal. The Hurricanes dominated the Canadiens in the shots department, outshooting the Canadiens 83-31 in those two games. The Canadiens managed to still bring the Hurricanes to overtime in Game 3 despite getting heavily outshot before getting pummeled 4-0 in Game 4. The Canadiens look like a team that’s just completely running out of gas, while the Hurricanes looked fresh after sweeping their first two series. However, the Canadiens are a resilient team, and we expect them to come into Game 5 swinging.
The Canadiens Story
The Canadiens enter Game 5 with their backs against the wall. It’s do or die tonight for the Canadiens, but one thing we’ve seen from this team all season long is that they’re a resilient group. The Canadiens have been heavily outshot in this series, but still managed to find themselves just one shot away from winning Games 2 and 3 as they went to overtime in both games. Knowing that these games could have gone either way is something the Canadiens need to have in their mind, and not the fact that they’re down 3-1 in the series. If they want any chance of getting back in this series, though, they need to start putting more pucks at the net. They’ve managed over 20 shots in just one game, and of course, it’s the game they won.
Phillip Danault leads the Canadiens in points during the series with a goal and three assists. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky each have three points.
Jakub Dobes will get the start again in Game 5, and he has been the brightest spot for the Canadiens, not only during this series but the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs. In this series, Dobes has a 1-3 record with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Expect him to continue this solid play in tonight’s game.
The Hurricanes Story
After they shook the rust in Game 1, the Hurricanes have simply looked outstanding. Holding the Canadiens to just 43 shots in the next three games. The unfortunate part for the Hurricanes is that, despite outshooting the Canadiens 123-43 over three games, they had to go to overtime twice in order to finish off the Canadiens. One in which the Canadiens had a goal called back late in the third to allow the game to go to overtime.
However, Game 4 was a different story as the Hurricanes pounded what looks to be an exhausted Habs team. They’re hoping to carry that momentum back to Carolina to finish the series and meet the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final. Nikolaj Ehlers leads the way for the Hurricanes during the series with two goals and two assists, while Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov have two points each.
Frederik Andersen will get the call in this game. Andersen has been ok so far in the series, posting a 3-1 record with a goals-against average of 2.12 and a save percentage of .859.
Prediction and Best Bets
Heading back to Carolina, the Canadiens are in tough. The Lenovo Arena is an incredibly tough building for the opposition to play in. However, during these playoffs, the Canadiens have been much better on the road than they have been at home, with a record of 7-3. We expect them to add another win to that record tonight and push a Game 6 back at home in Montreal.
Prediction: Canadiens win 3-1
Best Bets
For best bets on the Montreal side, we like Alex Carrier to block at least three shots in the game at (-115). Carrier has hit that number in all four games so far and has blocked 17 shots in the series.
On the Hurricanes’ side, we like Seth Jarvis to record at least three shots in the game at (-160). Jarvis has hit this number in four of the last five games and did it in both games at home. Expect him to do it again tonight.
Main Photo: James Guillory-Imagn Images
